Save up to $677 on our trips! Book now and secure your adventure!

The Best Art Galleries to Visit in Jakarta

MACAN Museum Indonesia
MACAN Museum Indonesia | © Courtesy of Museum MACAN

In a city as diverse and dynamic, it’s no wonder the art scene is alive and flourishing. Jakarta is one of the most important artistic hubs in Indonesia, where inspiration astounds and appreciation abounds. Discover the best art galleries to visit in the capital.

National Gallery of Indonesia

Art Gallery, Museum

National Gallery of Indonesia
© Achmad Soerio Hutomo/Flickr
This government-run gallery takes its visitors back to the early days of artistic pursuits in Indonesia and walks us through each important, captivating episode. As a prominent art and cultural space, it houses about 1,700 collections from the nation’s brightest artists, including the legendary Raden Saleh and Affandi. But the historical time-frame captured by this gallery extends to the present, as the National Gallery also showcases impressive contemporary artworks, from paintings to installations. More than the extensive collections in the permanent exhibition, this gallery also hosts important temporary exhibitions.

Art:1

Museum, Art Gallery

Established in 1983 by the name Mon Décor, this establishment predates most private art galleries in Jakarta; and its withstanding prominence is a testament to the quality and reputation it has held throughout the decades. When the gallery was reborn as Art:1 in 2011, it attracted fresh enthusiasm and excitement from urban art lovers, especially since it added a whole new space for contemporary works by emerging artists. But more than a fine art gallery, Art:1 also serves as an art institute that seeks to support the growth of art infrastructure in Indonesia.

Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Nusantara (MACAN)

Museum

Museum MACAN Interior | Edira Putri/Culture Trip
© Culture Trip
Established in 2017, this establishment is the newest addition to the passionate and lively art sphere of Jakarta. As Indonesia’s first international modern art museum, it brings fresh novelty art works from local and international artists to the public, making the space a hub for talented artists, avid art enthusiasts, and even the curious general public. The museum features exhibition galleries, an indoor sculpture garden, and spaces for educational purposes.

Komunitas Salihara

Building, Theater, Art Gallery

More than just a gallery, Komunitas Salihara is indeed a community, welcoming and nurturing all forms of arts imaginable: visual arts, theater, dance, music, even art discussions. Founded by acclaimed journalist and poet Goenawan Mohamad, the art center is one of the most respected art establishments in the city. There is always something interesting going on in this dynamic space, from festivals to exhibitions; classics to contemporary; local to global. As a community, Salihara is the melting pot of thinkers, artists, writers, bibliophiles, and culture-enthusiasts in general.

Edwin’s Gallery

Founded in 1984 by renowned photographer Edwin Rajarho, the gallery has utilized all the time and experience it has, to improve in every aspect. From a small space in Edwin’s garage, the gallery now claims a vast area in the lively Kemang neighborhood. During the last three decades, the art establishment has also contributed greatly in introducing local and international artists through prestigious exhibitions, including Sunaryo, Heri Dono, and Dolorosa Sinaga. It has received repeated honors to present major artworks from legendary artists including Ahmad Sadali and Affandi.

Hadiprana Gallery

Art Gallery

The first art gallery by Hadiprana was born in 1962, a tricky and awkward time for art progression in Indonesia due to national and political turmoil. However, the establishment managed to not only survive, but push art into the public eyes, making it a pioneer in promoting fine art. In 1997, the gallery moved and improved as an Art Boutique Mall that doesn’t only showcase high-quality art works, but also nurtures young new talents through classes. Hadiprana Gallery houses art in its many forms, from paintings to photographs, sculptures to videos.

BIASA ArtSpace

Although the name means ‘ordinary’ in Indonesian, this art space is anything but average. Since its birth in 2005, this gallery has contributed greatly in promoting and developing the sphere of contemporary art in Indonesia. More than just a place to feast the eyes, the gallery operates on a mission to stimulate better socio-cultural understanding through art, invoking the thoughts and reflections of the urban dwellers in Jakarta with each piece. The art space sets no limits to the works it showcases, from visual displays to kinetic installations from local and foreign contemporary artists.

Akili Museum of Art

Art Gallery, Museum

This elegant art space presents the private art collections of businessman and art enthusiast Rudy Akili. His versatile taste adds up to impressive, diverse collections from classical and realism to experimental, in the forms of paintings and installations. As a member of the Art Stage Jakarta Board of Art Patrons, Akili is eager to learn about all art works from the artists and dedicate his space as an access point to the public’s consciousness on contemporary art.
If you click on a link in this story, we may earn affiliate revenue. All recommendations have been independently sourced by Culture Trip.
close-ad