Ni Gusti Agung Galuh

Gusti Agung Galuh
Born  1968 – Kapal, Bali

Gusti Agung Galuh is a Balinese painter whose works are celebrated for their poetic portrayals of nature and deep reverence for her homeland. Born in the western Balinese village of Kapal, Galuh learned to paint from her late father, a traditional Balinese painter. Her early artistic development was also influenced by the visual legacy of the German painter Walter Spies, whose work in pre-war Ubud left a lasting imprint on Balinese modernism.

​

Galuh eventually developed her own distinctive style. Her paintings predominantly depict landscapes of forests and terraced rice fields, rendered in oil paint with a gentle, contemplative sensibility. The recurring vertical lines of towering coconut trees and the flowing contours of rice terraces convey a rhythmic harmony, surrounded by the lush wildness of Bali’s natural environment.

​

Her technique reflects a subtle reinterpretation of classical elements associated with Spies: atmospheric perspective, misty effects, soft lighting, and a muted, lyrical palette. These elements distinguish her work within the wider field of Balinese landscape painting. Each of Galuh’s pieces is created with meticulous attention to detail, and due to her careful, dedicated process, only a limited number of paintings are produced each year making her works highly anticipated and cherished.

​

Galuh’s paintings are held in the permanent collection of the Museum Puri Lukisan in Ubud and in numerous private collections across Indonesia and abroad. Her work continues to affirm the enduring evolution of Balinese painting, particularly through a rare and vital female voice in a largely male-dominated tradition.

​

She has been actively exhibiting since 1993, including notable group exhibitions such as Futuwonder at Jakarta Biennale (2021), Exceptional Women at the Grand Hyatt Jakarta with Seniwati Gallery (2020), and solo exhibitions such as Sinar Galuh at Puri Art Space, Jakarta (2008). Her work was also featured in a solo presentation by Puri Art Gallery at Art Jakarta 2018.