The year 2025 marked a remarkable chapter for Bali’s art landscape. Despite global and national turbulence, the island’s creative pulse not only endured — it thrived. Bali’s art community demonstrated its signature resilience, innovation, and collaborative spirit, reinforcing its position as one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic cultural hubs.
This year, more than 200 art events were recorded through Bali Art Guide, averaging 15 new group or solo exhibitions opening each month. The sheer volume alone signals a thriving ecosystem, but it was the quality and ambition of the programming that truly defined 2025.
Standout highlights included the ever-expanding Ubud Open Studios, the landmark retrospective “50 Years of Apel Hendrawan,” the sweeping curatorial narrative of “Parallel Legacies in Flux” at UAG, and the celebratory USK Bali anniversary exhibition “Story of Indonesia,” which continues into January 2026. Together, these events reflected both the depth of Bali’s artistic heritage and the bold experimentation shaping its future.
Throughout the year, established collectives continued to elevate their practices with fresh concepts and striking new work. At the same time, new artist groups emerged across generations, blending young, mid-career, and senior artists in collaborations defined by stylistic diversity and conceptual courage. The synergy across disciplines and ages was one of the year’s most exciting developments.
ISI Bali (Institut Seni Indonesia) also had a strong presence in 2025, with students, alumni, and faculty staging multiple exhibitions. Senior professors — along with the Rektor — represented the institution at Art Jakarta, Indonesia’s largest and most influential art fair, underscoring Bali’s growing national significance.
It was also an exceptional year for solo exhibitions — many of which may one day be considered historical milestones. Artists including Tien Hong, Citra Sasmita, Ni Wayan Sutariyani, Yessiow, Daniel Kho, Gede Austana, Apel Hendrawan, Slinat, Putu Bonuz, Sakde Oka, Eve Koss, and Paisi, among many others, delivered compelling presentations of personal vision, technical mastery, and cultural reflection that captured audiences and critics alike.
As the year closed, one message resonated clearly across the island: Bali’s art scene has entered a new era of momentum. With major events already slated for the coming year, new museums and galleries preparing to open, and the creative energy of 2025 still crackling in the air, 2026 promises to be even more ambitious, more vibrant, and perhaps even groundbreaking.
Bali has never lacked inspiration — but in 2025, it transformed that inspiration into a powerful, collective movement. And by all indications, the best is yet to come.
Written by: Gede Austana
As the year closed, one message resonated clearly across the island: Bali’s art scene has entered a new era of momentum. With major events already slated for the coming year, new museums and galleries preparing to open, and the creative energy of 2025 still crackling in the air, 2026 promises to be even more ambitious, more vibrant, and perhaps even groundbreaking.
Bali has never lacked inspiration — but in 2025, it transformed that inspiration into a powerful, collective movement. And by all indications, the best is yet to come.
Written by: Gede Austana
Photo Credit: Gede Austana
Top: Stigma Collective "Trauma" Group Exhibition
Middle: Artwork by Bulan Senja at the "Her Colours" Group Exhibition
Bottom: Crowd at "50 Years of Apel Hendrawan" Solo Exhibition
Middle: Artwork by Bulan Senja at the "Her Colours" Group Exhibition
Bottom: Crowd at "50 Years of Apel Hendrawan" Solo Exhibition