Dato' Ibrahim Hussein was born on 13 March 1936 in Sungai Limau, Yan. Kedah. He received his early education at the Yan Malay School. Later, he continued his studies at the Nyanyang Academy of Arts, Singapore. Then he received a scholarship to continued his studies in England. He enrolled himself at the Byam Shaw School of Drawing and Printing, London in 1959. After four years there, he proceeded to continue his studies at the Royal Academy School, London in 1963, and he was here for three years. Around 1973, Dato' Ibrahim started his career as a Resident Artist at the University of Malaya.

The name Dato' Ibrahim Hussein is synonymous with modern art of Malaysia. The deep involvement of his two elder brothers (Dato' Abdullah Hussein and Tan Sri Ismail Hussein) in the field of literary writing did not, in any way, influence Dato Ibrahim in his involvement in modern art. He has dedicated 40 years of his life in this genre.

• First Solo Exhibition at John Whibley Gallery, London (1963)
  
• Second Exhibition at Gallerie Internationale, New York (1965)
  
• Exhibition at Takashima Arts Gallery, Tokyo (1989)
  
• Exhibition at Takashima Arts Gallery, Osaka (1989)
  
• Exhibition at Museo National de Bellas Artes, Santiago Chile (1991)
  
• Exhibition at World Economic Forum, Switzerland (1994)

Now, Dato' Ibrahim Hussein has his own arts gallery known as Ibrahim Hussein Muzium and Culture Foundation sited at Langkawi Island. This gallery has successfully organized The Langkawi International Festival of Art.
In recognition of his excellence in this field both at national as well as international levels, Dato Ibrahim Hussein was bestowed the 'Crystal Award World Economic Forum' Switzerland in 1997, the Dato' Setia Diraja Kedah (D.S.D.K) which carries the title Dato', 'the Order of Bernado O' Hinggings', Chile' in 1995, the 'Dato' Paduka Mahkota Perak' (D.P.M.P) in 1991 and 'Order of Audres Bello Venezuela' in 1993.