Discovering Art And History in Bali

Bali Art Museum, the places to Discover Old Art

When you are traveling, it is essential to understand the history of a place. Museums are the best places to go for this, filled with art, artifacts, and mementos of culture. Here in Bali, the culture is rich and to learn and understand it you’ll need to go to the places that display this culture in the best way. That’s why we’ve collected a list of the best museums in Bali which not only present the past but also show a glimpse of the island’s future.

5 Best Museums in Bali

1. Agung Rai Museum of Art (Ubud) 

Museums in Bali Agung Rai Museum of Art

Founded in 1996 by Agung Rai, a Balinese who is committed to preserving and developing Balinese art and culture, this museum is not just a place that has collected and preserved artworks but is also here to develop the art of painting, sculpture, dance, music and other cultural art forms. They provide the infrastructure for the surrounding neighborhoods to learn those artistic skills. Existing as more than just a museum, ARMA allows you to enjoy the special exhibitions, theater performances, dances, music and painting classes, a bookshop, library and reading room, cultural workshops, conferences, seminars, and training programs. 

Collections: The painting collection at ARMA ranges from traditional to contemporary, including the classical Kamasan Collection on tree bark, masterpieces by Batuan artists of the 30s and 40s, and the only available works to be seen on the island from 19th-century Javanese artist Raden Saleh and Syarif Bustaman. The displayed collection of foreign artists who made a contribution to the development of the Balinese arts is also available inside the museum. ARMA is one of the best museums in Bali to see the chronological development of art in Bali, from traditional pieces, influences to contemporary forms. The most popular pieces are the works by Balinese masters I Gusti Nyoman Lempad, Ida Bagus Made, Anak Agung Gede Sobrat and I Gusti Made Deblog. This is not just a regular one of the museums in Bali, it is a walk through Bali’s art history.

Agung Rai Museum of Art Address : Jalan Raya Pengosekan, Ubud, Gianyar Telephone : +62 361 976659 Website : www.armabali.com

2. Bajra Sandhi

Standing in the center of a park, Bajra Sandhi Museum displays spectacular and artistic Balinese architecture. Located in central of Denpasar, this is where you can learn a lot about the history and culture of Bali. The museum is a dedication to the struggles of the past and reminds future generations of culture and the need to preserve it. The site has numerous dioramas that depict the political and economic events of Bali dating back to thousands of years. The surrounding areas of the museum are a great place for runners, cyclists and yoga enthusiasts to enjoy the park.

Collections: One of the important collections in this museum is the Bajra, most commonly used by Hindu priests while chanting Vedic mantras during the religious ceremonies. This historical museum captures the Balinese struggle against the Dutch colonial invasion. The Balinese Struggle Monument with its Balinese architecture and detailed carvings is an important part of the museum. This one of the museums in Bali that are more frequented by locals, which makes it a less busy destination for visitors! Bajra Sandhi (Renon Monument)

Address : Jalan Raya Puputan No. 142, Panjer, Denpasar Telephone : +62 823 3027 2304.

3. Bali Museum

Again, likely Bajra Sandhi, because this is one of the museums in Denpasar, it is less frequented by tourists. This museum is definitely a heritage center that depicts Balinese culture and history. Built in the early ’30s, Bali Museum has four main structures. In Tabanan, visitors can see musical instruments and theatrical masks. In Karangasem, paintings and sculptures are on display. If you are interested in the local textile industry and its history, you can see them in Buleleng. For those who are keen to see archaeological artifacts, these can be found in Timur.

Collections: The collections stored in this museum can be classified as a prehistoric object collection. They keep a stock of artifacts that can be traced back to the megalithic period, like a sarcophagus, bronze statues from the height of the Hindu and Buddha eras, superstitious formulas, ethnographic objects, religious ceremony tools, stupid clay, many ancient tools and weapons among many others. It also houses different Balinese looms and ancient calendars.
Bali Museum Address : Jalan Mayor Wisnu, Dauh Puri Kangin, East Denpasar Telephone : +62 361 222680

4. Le Mayeur

Le Mayeur Museum used to be the home of the painter himself, Adrien-Jean Le Mayeur de Merpres. Facing directly to Sanur Beach, this memorial museum is a great example of Balinese architecture with elegant window shutters depicting the story from Ramayana. There are five rooms in this house, and each of the rooms tells a story about the love of his life, Ni Pollok. The museum helps bring to life this love story with inanimate objects preserved for everyone to view. Original antique furniture, photographs from the past and a great collection of stone and wood carvings add that extra touch to this museum. From the family home to one of the most famous museums in Bali, quite a transformation.

Collections: When you walk through each room, you will understand the love and dedication of Le Mayeur for arts and women. There is a studio room, study room, reading room, multiple bedrooms, and Ni Pollok’s vanity room. Some of his famous collections are By the Lotus Pond, Girls on Beach, Garden at Sanur, Women Around the Lotus Pond, Temple Festival in Bali, and many more. But, of course, the popular one among those is the Ni Pollok collection. Le Mayeur’s paintings of Bali are mostly depictions of everyday life. Here at Le Mayeur, not only does the building display a piece of history, the building itself is part of history.
Le Mayeur Address : Jalan Hang Tuah, Sanur Kaja, South Denpasar Telephone : +62 361 286201

5. Neka Art Museum

This museum in Ubud, Neka Art Museum, was built in 1976. It houses many art pieces where you can learn about the development of Bali’s visual arts. The collections are spread out into different pavilions inside the museum. The museum was founded by Pande Wayan Suteja Neka, whom the museum is named after. Neka Art Museum in Bali Collections: The Lempad Pavilion is built in honor of a late Balinese sculptor and architect, I Gusti Nyoman Lempad. This area is filled with unique styles of painting. The Arie Smit Pavilion was set up in admiration of Adrianus Wilhelmus Smit, a Dutch-born Indonesian painter who developed arts in Ubud.

The pavilion consists of two floors, the first displaying the works of young artists who were inspired by Smit, while the second floor features the works of Smit in various themes. The Contemporary Indonesian Art Hall Pavilion has paintings by artists from other parts of Indonesia, including stunning works by the late Affandi. There is also a pavilion dedicated to photography. Here, you can find documentation of black-and-white photos since the 30s taken by Robert Koke (one of the earliest expatriates in Bali). Pande Wayan Suteja Neka Neka is not only one of Bali’s best museums for art, but it also features a traditional keris dagger collection in one of the pavilions. As this is the founder’s own passion, he managed to collect 272 curved daggers throughout the half-century of his lifetime. Many people come to this museum bringing old and new Keris to be examined by Neka.

Neka Art Museum Address : Jalan Raya Sanggingan Campuhan, Kedewatan, Ubud, Gianyar Telephone : +62 361 975074 Website : www.museumneka.com