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Vacation with Ubud’s master artists 

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A look back at Ubud’s master artists and artistic past for modern inspiration

Why does the 1920s Balinese-European cultural fusion inspire artists worldwide?

After the Germans took over Holland in 1940, Walter Spies, a German artist, became an enemy of the Dutch empire. He and German POWs were being deported from Sumatra to Ceylon (Sri Lanka) when the SS Van Imhoff was sunk off the coast of Nias by a Japanese bomber. The Dutch captain abandoned them to their fate. killing the majority of the internees on board. Among them was Spies.

Spies was a primitivist painter with a pertinacious curiosity and a desire to know everything about the Balinese. Several artists in the area began to take notice, and in 1927, the Prince of Ubud, Tjokorda Raka Sukawati, invited him to relocate to Bali. Spies built a two-story mountain hut, which became a destination for artists, writers, anthropologists, actors, and other cultural icons from all over the world, including the likes of Charlie Chaplin, anthropologist Margaret Mead, artist Miguel Covarrubias, and the Mexican caricaturist Diego Rivera. Many Balinese and Javanese claim that Spies did not take advantage of their culture but rather used it as inspiration for a new way of life and art that helped pave the way for modernization in Bali.

Tjampuhan, now a hotel, was the birthplace of a thriving artistic community that continues to inspire artists and art enthusiasts today. Spies’ two-story mountain hut evokes a bygone era with inspiring views of Ubud.

Experience an AUTHENTIC tour of the sights and sounds frequented by famed artists Walter Spies and FREE thinkers

A great place to start exploring the world that inspired so many painters is by staying at Walter Spies’ two-story hut. On one side, there’s a lotus pond, and on the other, asymmetrical begonias, wild orchids, and endemic plants found only on Bali.

ubuds master artists
Ubud's master artists

This historic home features two enchanting bedrooms and an open living terrace that perfectly captures the spirit of both Ubud and Spies.

Spies would have artists around for tea like Rudolf Bonnet and Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur and the Anak Agung Gde Sobrat of Indonesia.

Once you’re acclimated with your new base, it’s time to check out some of the area’s museums, which have exhibits of both Balinese and European art and culture.

The strong lines and cool colors that evoke Bali’s thick jungles will no doubt inspire you and artists alike.

By studying Spies’ and Bonnet’s views on perspective and subject matter, you might perhaps develop your own distinctive approach to painting, as have many of his students before you.

Spies undoubtedly left his imprint on the island, and remnants of his time there can still be found today. While museums are one venue to learn about him, his legacy lives on among the Balinese people—in theater, art, dance, architecture, and the very landscapes he painted.

There are three museums in Bali that are not to be missed if you have an interest in Balinese art: ARMA, Puri Lukisan, and the Neka Art Museum.

The Komaneka Art Gallery is a fantastic representation of the more abstract and modern style that has emerged on the island. At the Blanco Renaissance Museum, a collection of the artist’s nude portraits of Balinese women takes center stage.

Allow yourself at least a few days in Ubud to see the galleries and museums described below, and more time if you also want to take advantage of the town’s many other tourist attractions.

ARMA: Agung Rai Museum of Art

The inspiration for Agung Rai to establish the Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) was crystal clear. Since birth, he has dedicated his life to preserving and promoting Balinese culture. It was Agung Rai’s personal artistic struggles that motivated him to find a way to make a living from his art while still maintaining a healthy work/life balance. He knew what he was good at as a gallery manager and used those skills to sell to visitors the pieces from his and his colleagues’ collections that had caught the attention of many.

  • Jl. Raya Pengosekan Ubud, MAS, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
  • +62 361 976659
  • http://www.armabali.com/
  • 9:00 – 18:00
  • Open every day
  • Rp. 80,000

Puri Lukisan

To learn more about the evolution of Balinese creative forms beginning in the 1930s, Puri Lukisan is a must-visit. The art at Puri Lukisan is spread out over a number of buildings, with a quiet garden at the center. Each building houses a superb collection of wooden carvings and painted works.

Founded and constructed by Tjokorda Gde Agung Sukawati (the king of Ubud), his brother, Walter Spies, and Rudolf Bonnet, it is one of the oldest art museums in Bali. Most of the artwork depicts scenes from the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. Many different artistic styles have been used to depict the eternal struggle of good and evil, as well as the love between mortals and immortals. Images of the Balinese countryside are also featured in the works of Walter Spies. All are open for international spiritual and bodily reflection.

Neka art Museum

Once a teacher, Suteja Neka built the Neka Art Museum. He was perplexed that there were so few galleries displaying Balinese art in Bali itself after viewing examples of it in European museums. This inspired him to build a new museum dedicated to Balinese art in Ubud.

  • Jalan Raya Sanggingan Campuhan, Kedewatan, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
  • +62 361 975074
  • https://nekaartmuseum.com
  • 9:00 – 17:00
  • Open every day
  • Rp. 75,000

Komaneka Art Gallery

Those curious in Ubud’s contemporary art scene might stop by Komaneka Art Gallery on Monkey Forest Road. Almost everything in the gallery is a recent creation by a living artist.

Blanco Renaissance Museum

The home and workshop of artist Don Antonio Blanco are now on display at the Blanco Renaissance Museum. Blanco, who is of Catalan descent but was born in the Philippines, visited Bali for the first time in 1952 on his way through the region. Ni Rondji, a native dancer, and the island itself captured his heart. Following this, he made up his mind to call Ubud home forever.

  • Jl. Raya Penestanan No.8, Sayan, Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571
  • +62 361 975502
  • http://www.blancomuseum.com/
  • 9:00 – 17:00
  • Open every day
  • Rp. 80,000

Art is alive! Visits to Ubud, home to some of the world’s most renowned works of art, are only the beginning of the educational opportunities available to art students who go overseas.

When you first start taking art classes, what should your work look like or how advanced should you be?

The prerequisite skill level for an art course is completely up to the student and the kind of art course they choose to take.

If an artist is considering a four-year degree program, they could use their time away from formal education to broaden their horizons and enrich their education in ways that wouldn’t normally be possible.

Many first-year students have never picked up a paintbrush before coming to college, and so enter their first two years with no prior art experience. Taking a range of painting lessons in Ubud is a great way to try out several mediums and styles before committing to one. And students who have already decided on an artistic career path may choose a single elective to hone their skills in a specific medium, such as sculpting or metalwork.

Although some students may need more than three hours to learn the material, you are welcome to attend as many lessons as you want during your time in Bali. It is even possible to create a portfolio. Ubud is a fantastic location to study art in a variety of genres (painting, sculpture, photography, illustration, etc.).

Sari Api Ceramic Studio

4.5 stars (106) reviews
Jl. Suweta
Opens 9 AM
“Great place for kids pottery classes”

Chez Monique Silversmith Classes

4.8 stars (103) reviews
No.57 Taman Kaja, Jl. Sri Wedari
Opens 9 AM
“I have taken two classes here (so far) and absolutely adore my creations.”

Widya’s Batik Class

5.0 stars (107) reviews
Jl. Sri Wedari No.61
Opens 9 AM
“Excellent class I’ll tell everyone else to do it.”

Kupu Kupu Gallery & Art Class

5.0 stars (29) reviews reviews
Jl. Jembawan No.17
Opens 9 AM
“I painted a Balinese dancer using only coffee as the medium.”

Ubud Art Classes
Ubud Art Lessons

5.0 stars (108) reviews
Nyuh Kuning Rd
Opens 9 AM
“My family and I did the fruit carving class.”

This trip is a great chance to see Ubud, expand your mind, and make new connections. Take a trip to Ubud and get away from your screens to reacquaint yourself with the real world. Get to know the locals and uncover a hidden gem in your travels. Visit the studio of a famous artist and spend some time there working with your hands. Get a novel imaginative ability. A trip to see works of art may serve many purposes: it can help you come in touch with your inner artist, provide you with a genuine travel experience, help you refine a skill, spark new ideas, and more.