Ni Made Suciarmi
Ni Made Suciarmi is recognized as the first documented female painter in the classical Kamasan tradition, a groundbreaking figure who challenged gender norms and reshaped the cultural narrative of Balinese visual arts. Born in 1932, she was the daughter of Ketut Sulaya, a respected Kamasan painter. Under the rigorous tutelage of her father and uncles, Suciarmi was trained in all aspects of the Kamasan painting process, from composition and narrative structure to line work and color application.
At a time when women were typically relegated to the role of colorists, Suciarmi’s emergence as a fully realized artist marked a transformative shift in the tradition. She stepped into the role of storyteller, creating intricate wayang-style paintings rooted in classical Balinese epics. Her presence signaled the opening of a once exclusively male artistic lineage to women, paving the way for future generations of female Kamasan artists, including Mangku Muriati, Ni Nyoman Wally, and Wayan Sriwedari.
Suciarmi achieved both critical acclaim and commercial success, exhibiting internationally in the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, and Singapore. In addition to fine art, she produced ritual paintings, banners, and temple decorations, as well as commissions for private homes and public spaces.
Throughout her decades-long career, Suciarmi portrayed classical Balinese characters and narratives with clarity, grace, and technical mastery. Her work stood equal to, and often surpassed, that of her male counterparts. More than a skilled painter, she was a cultural pioneer. She will be remembered as the young girl who rejected the loom traditionally assigned to women, and instead picked up the bamboo brush, an act of defiance that forever altered the possibilities for women in Kamasan painting
Niwata Kawaca, Approx 1990
63 x 84 cm
Warna Bali on traditional canvas
Timeline
Ni Made Suciarmi (b. 1932) is a dedicated artist and the first documented female Kamasan painter of her time. She played a pivotal role in the continuation and transformation of the Kamasan painting tradition, becoming a trailblazer for women in a genre long dominated by men. Her success helped challenge and dismantle gender-based stigmas associated with artistic mastery in this classical Balinese art form.
The daughter of Ketut Sulaya, a renowned Kamasan painter, Suciarmi was trained rigorously by her father and uncles. Through their guidance, she not only learned but eventually mastered the full process of creating Kamasan paintings—a significant achievement in an era when women were typically relegated to supportive roles such as coloring.
Her emergence marked a turning point in the recognition of women's roles within the Kamasan tradition. No longer confined to auxiliary tasks, women like Suciarmi began to take on the central roles of storytellers and master painters in the wayang Kamasan style. Her groundbreaking path paved the way for a new generation of female artists, including Mangku Muriati, Ni Nyoman Wally, and Wayan Sriwedari, who now continue the legacy she helped redefine.
Suciarmi also achieved notable commercial success, which enabled her to travel abroad and present her works in galleries across the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, and Singapore. In addition to producing paintings for collectors and exhibitions, she has created banners, flags, and wall hangings for ritual use in temples, as well as decorative works for private residences and public spaces.