Born of Malay, Portuguese and Peranakan-Chinese parentage, Izmir uses his identity crisis as a persistent source to seek truth and authenticity in his work. At a young age, his life completely changed after he saw Michelangelo’s Pieta and read his quote, "I saw an angel in the marble and I carved until I set him free". Today he believes perfection can be found in every work he does; every project, and every design. He believes collaboration to be a critical part in the process of working in theater, and believes theater and art are meant to make the world a better place, and as theater makers we should aim to be nicer to each other. As a designer and artist, Ickbal aims to give voice to the under- and/or misrepresented, seeking to de-colonize and reclaim the hitherto normative narrative of their cultural development and representation. He is a New York based multidisciplinary theater designer who currently serves as an Assistant Professor of Theater Design and Technology in the Department of Drama at Syracuse University. He has also previously taught at Alfred University and St. Bonaventure University. He has designed more than 70 productions locally, regionally and internationally, at large theater spaces such as the Mark Taper Forum for Center Theater Group in Los Angeles; the iconic Auditorio de Tenerife in Spain; at premier national venues in Singapore such as the Esplanade Concert Hall and the National Gallery of Singapore; at the tiniest off-off-Broadway spaces the size of a postage stamp such as Theater C at 59E59 theaters in New York City; and to bustling community outdoor audiences with the Elm Shakespeare Company in Connecticut. Others include the Classical Theatre of Harlem, Company One Theater Boston, The Tank, BRIC House, New York Theater Workshop, Dixon Place, National Black Theatre, LAByrinth Theatre Company, Kitchen Theater Company, Redhouse Performing Arts Center, The People’s Theatre Project, and Theater For A New Audience. In 2023 he was awarded Best Lighting Design at the Houston Press Theater Awards. In 2019, he received nominations for Best Scenic Design at the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards and the Elliot Norton Awards in Boston. Izmir holds an MFA from Yale School of Drama and a BA from the National University of Singapore. He is a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829.