Born in Tirana, Albania, Igli Arapi graduated from the Jordan Misja School of Art in Tirana. In 2002, he graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Bari, Italy, and was subsequently included among the 200 promising young Italian artists by Mondadori Editore's "Arte" magazine. He has been painting for over 30 years, and art is his profession. He teaches art and, among other techniques, drawing, oil on canvas, and watercolor.Many of his works are part of private collections in Italy and abroad and he is often invited to hold workshops and demonstrations at art festivals in Italy and abroad.

Member of the Malerstubchen Museum Association Willingshausen.
Member of the INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF WATERCOLOR - MONZA
International leader for FabrianoInAcquerello
Jury for the selection of artists for FabrianoInAcquerello 2020/2021
Judge of the 2021 Monza Watercolor Competition
Cited in the article " Watercolor: A Graphic or Pictorial Medium? " as an example of styles among past and present masters. Published by IWS Bulgaria.com 2020

He has received numerous art awards for his commitment to the artistic field.

First prize in the competition dedicated to the statue of Maenad, the work will be permanently exhibited at the Tuscolano Scuderie Aldobrandini Museum in Frascati. 2025
"EOEOART Award” presented at the International Watercolor Triennial in Varna, Bulgaria 2025
“Escoda Award” at the International Watercolor Triennial in Varna, Bulgaria 2022
Received the "Silver Award" for best architectural painting. Artist or sketch at the open-air event ART in The Open, Wexford (Ireland) 2023.
First prize at the "Le Salon De Printemps" 2022 competition. Bari, Italy
Awarded as "Special Prize Winner" at the "Step by Step" International Watercolor Competition Season III 2021.
Received a Highly Commended Award at the IWM International Watercolor Master competition 2021-22, England.
Awarded "Best Watercolor for Landscape Painting" at the 3rd International Watercolor Biennial in Pakistan. 2020
"AWARD OF EXCELLENCE" Award at the Varna Triennial (Bulgaria). 2016
Awarded at the 2nd International Watercolor Biennial in Tirana.
Winner of First Prize in two consecutive editions of the national competition. 2012-'14.

Invitation as "Guest Artist" in Thailand '25, Watercolor Festival organized by IWS India 2024, International Watercolor Festival, YAKU '24, Argentina, International Symposium, Bulgaria '24, International Symposium, Germany '24
Selected at the FESTIVAL – CONTEST Plein Air Easton, MD 2023 - USA
Invited as a guest artist at the open-air event ART in The Open, Wexford (Ireland) 2023
Artist – guest at the MalerSimposium Willingshausen Plein air, Germany
Invited to the "Watercolor on the Grand Tour" event in Frascati - Rome 2023, 2024, 2025
Some important exhibitions:
ACADEMY ART MUSEUM, Easton, MD - USA
Tuscolano Museum Aldobrandini Stables of Frascati (RM) Italy
ART GALLERY "Vladimir Dimitrov (Bulgaria) 2015 –16, 19-2020, 2023, 2024
International Watercolor Biennial _ Pearls of Peace / MUET Center of Excellence in Art and Design, Jamshoro - Sindh, Pakistan
Contemporary Art Exhibition / ART GALLERY "Vladimir Dimitrov - Maystora" - Kyustendil, Bulgaria 2020
Civic Museums - Monza (Italy)
He has participated and continues to participate in various international watercolor festivals and biennials.