Ketut Suwidiarta
Ketut Suwidiarta
(born 1976, Bongkasa, Bali)
Ketut Suwidiarta is a Balinese artist whose visual language flows through drawing, batik, and doodling. His artistic journey began under the guidance of I Ketut Subagia, a painter known for the Padang Tegal style in Ubud. This traditional foundation was later expanded through formal studies at the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) in Yogyakarta, where Suwidiarta experienced the vibrant transition from the New Order to the Reform era. It was a period that offered new freedom for artistic expression and opened access to broader art communities.
Yogyakarta played a significant role in shaping his artistic identity. Through the Sanggar Dewata Indonesia collective, Suwidiarta developed his voice as an Indonesian artist while remaining rooted in the cultural traditions of Bali. From there, he began exhibiting his work across various cities in Indonesia.
Driven by a desire to explore further, Suwidiarta traveled to South Asia. A scholarship from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations enabled him to study at Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata, India. His time in India became a meaningful chapter that deeply influenced his artistic vision, combining intellectual inquiry with spiritual experience.
Returning to his home village in Bali, Suwidiarta now brings together the influences of his academic background in Yogyakarta and the spiritual insights from India. His works often reflect a cyclical understanding of life, drawing from classical Balinese concepts that view life as a wheel of continuous movement.
Since 1998, Suwidiarta has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions both in Indonesia and abroad. He has also received notable recognition for his contributions to art, including the Titian Art Prize and the Lempad Prize.
The Last Solution, 2025
200 x 200 cm
Acrylic on canvas
Within patriarchal systems, male supremacy is often upheld as the dominant and most visible form of power. Yet, this work draws attention to a subtler, often overlooked force: the quiet strength of women. Suwidiarta highlights the profound role of feminine energy as a foundation upon which life itself is sustained. Though soft and concealed, this power is immense—serving not only as a support system, but as the very axis around which existence revolves.
Timeline
1998 - 2008
International Art Exhibition, Rabindranath Tagore Centre, Kolkata India.
Survey, Edwin’s Gallery. Jakarta
Super Ego, Ego Gallery, Jakarta
Common Grounds: A Glimpse of Indonesian Contemporary Art, National Gallery, Jakarta.
Celebrate Fire Boar, CSIS Building, Jakarta, Griya Santrian, Bali.
Boeng Ajo Boeng, Jogja Gallery, Yogyakarta
Group exhibition, Millenium Gallery, Jakarta.
Transition, Bika Gallery, Jakarta
Behind The Realism. V-Art Gallery Café, Yogyakarta.
Fragment , Edwin’s Gallery, Jakarta
Bali Pre Biennial, Komaneka Gallery, Ubud, Bali.
Group exhibition, Gallery YDBA Kemang, Jakarta.
Kotakatikotakita, Sositet Militer, Yogyakarta.
Group Exhibition,The Peak, Jakarta.
Bazart, FKY, Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta.
Realisme Banal, Gracia Gallery, Surabaya
Semarak One, One Gallery, Jakarta
Group exhibition, Warisan Café, Kuta Bali.
Gedebook, Kedai Kebon Gallery, Yogyakarta.
Having Fun, Langgeng Gallery, Magelang.
Art Exhibition, Desa Nitiprayan, Yogyakarta.
Termogram with Sanggar Dewata Indonesia, Museum Neka, Bali.
Drawing exhibition, Balai Rupa Sanggar Dewata Indonesia, Yogyakarta.
Exhibition with Sanggar Dewata Indonesia, Sositet Militer, Yogyakarta.
Humberger, Mien Gallery, Yogyakarta.
Gincu Rupa with Kelompok Tempera, Puma Budaya Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta.
Group Exhibition, Rumah Seni AIR, Jakarta.
Untuk Semua Umur, Rumah Seni Air, Jakarta
Finalist of Nokia Art Award, Taman Ismail Marzuki, Jakarta
Group Exhibition, Bizette Gallery. Jakarta
Dies Natalis ISI, Yogyakarta
Exhibition with SDI, National Gallery, Jakarta
Yogyakarta Art Featival, Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta.
Exhibition with Kelompok Blobor’98, Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta.
Watercolor exhibition, ISI Yogyakarta
Oil Painting Exhibition, ISI, Yogyakarta
Yogyakarta Art Festival, Benteng Vredeburg, Yogyakarta
Exhibition with Kelompok Blobor, ISI, Yogyakarta
Sketch exhibition, ISI, Yogyakarta
2008 - 2018
Nirmaya rupa, Lv 8, canggu,badung, bali.
Pameran Bersama di Sangkring Art Space, Jogjakarta
Glorifying Colour,Museum Nyoman Gunarsa,Klungkung ,bali
contemporary art from Bali, langgeng art foundation, jogjakarta
Fraternity and Aesthetics in World Art,Istambul ,Turkey
Pameran Duo inferno, The Enigma of the mask
Pameran Art as Perspective,CLC Education,Denpasar.
Pameran Violent Bali,Tony Raka Art Gallery,Bali.
Pameran Untaian Solis,Taman Budaya NTT.
Pameran Drawing duo Inferno dengan tajuk “ INFERNO” di Danes Art Veranda, Denpasar.
Pameran Next Picture: Series,Albert Gallery Serpong,Tangerang.
Pameran Ethnicpower,Taman Budaya Bali,
Pameran Seni Rupa Mengenang Romo Mangun Wjaya,Taman Budaya Yogyakarta.
Baligraphy,Nyoman Gunarsa Nuseum,Klungkung- Bali.
Ilustrasi Cerpen Kompas 2013,Bentara budaya Jakarta,Jogjakarta,solo, Bali.
Irony In Paradise,ARMA,Ubud,Bali.
Tas, at jatis warung, sangeh badung bali.
Tanda hati, tony raka gallery, mas , ubud Bali.
Transposisi, jatim Bienal, Surabaya.
Aduk serta aji keteng,.. AJBS gallery, Surabaya.
Award Wining and Selected Artworks of The Students of The Faculty of Visual Arts Rabindra Bharati University at Victoria Memorial Hall, Kolkata India.
Group Exhibition, College Street, Kolkata India
Exsposign, Jogja Expo Centre, Yogyakarta.
Confluence of Culture in one world, Russian Centre of Science and Culture, Kolkata India.
2018 - 2025
Pameran “Longing for peaceful life on earth,” Taman Budaya Jawa Tengah
Pameran “ Voice of beauty”,( International Exhibition),Nata Citta Art Space,ISI Denpasar.
Pameran”Gates to Heaven”,Galleryclayworks,Singapura
Pameran “20 x 20’,Gosford Regional gallery Australia
Pameran” SDI vs SDI”,sangkring art space yogyakarta
Pameran” wara wastu waruna’,Nata Citta Art Space,ISI Denpasar
Pameran “nawaksara”,wartam denpasar
Pameran 12 SDI,Sika gallery,sanggingan Ubud
Pameran “pretiwimba” Tony raka gallery,mas ubud
Pameran “purpose for prasad” art exhibition,hotel tugu canggu bali
Pameran Me drawing,SDI di Purga gallery,ubud bali
Pameran warna bali,balinesia art space kuta.
Pameran “ Bersama” tema dan lukisan sosial kemanusiaan Basoeki Abdullah di Museum basoeki Abdullah,jakarta
Pameran “ Move on”, di bidadari gallery, mas ubud.
Pameran “ 1st (Art) group exhibition di seminyak village
Pameran group inferno “ Nirkata” di seminyak village
Pameran “ Artist luncheon” di komaneka tanggayuda,ubud bali
Pameran YAA#5 “Hybridity”, sangkring art space jogjakarta
Pameran balimegarupa “ Arus”,neka Museum,ubud Bali
Pameran “ mahardika “ di Titian Art Space
Pameran “Connectedness” di santrian gallery
Pameran “Artifactual”,Indira Gandhi National centre Of The Art,New Delhi,India
Pameran Yantra,Museum puri lukisan,ubud
Solo Exhibition:
Alchemy of shadow,Komaneka gallery,Ubud bali-Crossing the red line,komaneka gallery ubud bali
Rhythm of line,Oberoi Hotel,kuta; bali,2015
Woman Under Siege,Delhi University,India 2013
Ziarah Rupa, Danes Art Veranda, Bali 2012
Passage, Sangam House Yogyakarta 2011 -Sojourn, Rabindranath Tagore Centre, ICCR Kolkata India. 2010
Poisonous Fragrance, Komaneka Gallery, Ubud, Bali. 2005