Indonesian Most Famous Painters From Time to Time

Indonesian painters have existed for a long time ago. Their paint arts become famous not only in Indonesia but also in other countries. Every Indonesian painter has its unique character so that it becomes their charm.

If you wondering who they are that becomes the most famous painters in Indonesia, here we have some the list of them from time to time. Some of them have passed away but their art becomes the most memorable painting which is timeless in Indonesia.

1. Affandi Koesoema

Affandi becomes the most famous painter in Indonesia which his art becomes so popular around the world. He has the most unique way to paint his painting where he doesn’t use the paintbrush but his fingers.

Affandi was born in Cirebon, West Java in 1907 and passed away in 1997. He was known well as the most humble painter throughout his life. He looks himself not as a painter since for him painting a great work.

Affandi’s greatest works have so many paints that have been exhibited around the world, such as Kebun Cengkeh, Ayam Tarung, Perahu and Matahari, Barong, and Leak, and many more. Most of them have a great art and romance theme which seems like revolutionary paint for every painter.

If you are visiting Yogyakarta, you will the Affandi museums that shown most of Affandi’s painting. His name even remembers the specific name road in Yogyakarta since along time ago. If you want to explore his artwork, come to Yogyakarta and this can be the best time to visit Indonesia.

2. Abdullah Suriosubroto

Abdullah is a famous Indonesian painter in around 20 centuries. He was born in 1878 in Semarang, Central Java, and passed away in Yogyakarta in 1941. His legend painting such as Abdullah Suriosubroto, bamboo woods, and many more.

Abdullah loves nature painting so that most of his paints are about nature and scenery in some places. The bamboo woods becomes the greatest paints for him that famous around the world.

3. Basuki Abdullah

Basuki becomes the most legend painters in Indonesia with his greatest talent in painting a beautiful lady. People love his paints because it influences them and feels like the painting comes more beautiful than reality. His artwork is so famous such as Soekarno, Ibu, and Anak, Wanita Spanyol, Nyai Roro Kidu, Jaka Tarub, and many more.

Basuki was born in Surakarta, Central Java in 1915 and passed away in 1993. During his life, he has become the one who beat another European painter in Netherland. From that on, he was exploring other countries to exhibit his paints to France and Italy. When the Japanese invaded Indonesia, he becomes the art teacher for Poetra organization.

Not only becomes the art teacher, Basuki becomes the first painter in Jakarta palace in 1974. He becomes the permanent painter for Merdeka palace since then and was paint so many important persons in the Indonesian government.

4. Barli Sasmitawinata

Barli is an Indonesian painter that comes from Bandung. He was born in 1921 and passed away in 2007. During his life, he was an active painter that has so many painting such as Affandi and Istri Pulang Melukis Pohon Apel, Fruit Seller, Ibu Tani, Bobotoh, Pasar, and many more.

Barli is the only painter that so concern with education. That is why he built the art studio that calls as the Rangga Gempol studio in Dago, Bandung.

5. Delsy Samsumar

Delsy Samsumar is famous for her comic paintings. His first comic was published by Aneka magazine in Indonesia. His name constantly famous around Indonesia so that he was moving from Medan to Jakarta so that he can take some advantages of living in Jakarta.

Other Delsy’s famous painting is Gajah Mada, Christina Maria Tiahahu, Si Semut comic, and many more.

6. Hendra Gunawan

Hendra Gunawan is a Balinese painter that was born in Bandung in 1918 and passed away in Bali in 1983. He becomes the most legend painter in Indonesia with so many artworks such as Bisikan Iblis, Sketsa, Perempuan Menjual Ayam, and many more.

Affandi becomes the most influencer for Hendra’s career path. He was brave to make some great paintings based on Affandi’s motivation. You can explore his artwork at some museums in Jakarta.

7. Henk Ngantung

Henk was an Indonesian painter in the 1940 era with his famous painting that calls as Digiring Ke Kandang. During his life, he was not only a painter but also Jakarta’s governor between 1964 up to 1965. You can explore his painting artwork at Merdeka Palace. Since the place is not publicly open for tourism you can explore some museums and around the palace. The palace can be a must-visit place in Jakarta during the weekend.

8. I B Said

Said is the first Indonesian painter that choose by Soekarno as the first president of Indonesia at that time to paint every guest from other countries that visit Indonesia in 1963. He painted about 300 guests and the first Chinese president Liu Shoaqi becomes the first person that he paints.

Said has so many paint artworks such as Segitiga Senen, Tinggal Kenangan,  Ronald Reagan, Xanana Gusmao, and many more.

9. Present-day Painters

Nowadays, Indonesian painter becomes rarely heard but there also some Millenials painters that famous not only in Indonesia but around the world. For example, there are Bayu Santoso as the winner for the Maroon 5 design album cover, Roby Dwi Antono that his painters were shown in Singapore, Philippine, and Tokyo art exhibition.

Besides, there also Sinta Tantra that her painting arts were shown at some public spaces in London, New York, and France. All of their painting artworks bring Indonesia to be famous around the world.

So, there is some Indonesian most famous painter from time to time that you should know. Most of them become the most legendary painter famous around the world. We should be proud of them!