A New Space for Art in Ubud

Satyanara opens in Ubud, bringing art and cultural exchange together.

Words Art+ Magazine Team
Photos courtesy of Satyanara
October 13, 2026

Satyanara will open in Kedewatan, Ubud, Bali, on 22 October 2026, bringing together exhibitions, artist residencies, workshops, and public programs in a space dedicated to art and cultural exchange.

Operating under Yayasan Satya Djaya Raya (YSDR), Satyanara continues the Lyman family’s three-generation commitment to art and culture. It aims to connect artists, researchers, collectors, local communities, and visitors through exhibitions and programs that encourage the exchange of ideas and knowledge.

The site features three galleries, an amphitheatre, workshop spaces, artist studios and residency facilities, alongside a café and retail area. Its year-round program will include discussions, film screenings, performances, professional development, and initiatives to help artists expand their networks and access wider markets.

Satyanara welcomes visitors with different levels of interest in art, from those discovering Balinese art for the first time to artists, collectors, and researchers. It also aims to strengthen connections between artistic communities across Asia, recognizing culture as a living practice that continues to evolve through learning and exchange.

Three Exhibitions Mark the Opening

Satyanara opens with three exhibitions exploring color in Indonesian art, cultural landscapes, and the history of Chinese calligraphy.

Curated by Hendro Wiyanto, Ubud Art Ground #2: Letters to Colour takes inspiration from the book Warna Bali, which traces the use and development of color across traditional, modern, and contemporary Indonesian art. The exhibition runs from 22 October 2026 to 24 January 2027.

Fluid Kinship, curated by Mella Jaarsma and Yipei Lee, draws on research conducted between 2024 and 2025. It explores how history, geography, ecology, food systems, and human movement shape cultural landscapes. Bringing together perspectives from Iran, India, Indonesia, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Taiwan, the exhibition examines the changing relationships between people, their environments, and their cultures. It runs from 22 October 2026 to 30 April 2027.

The third exhibition, A Brush Between Worlds, is a long-term presentation of Chinese calligraphy, featuring the Four Treasures of the Study, paintings, and seal-carving works from the collection of the late Professor Chou Chen. The exhibition explores how artistic traditions and knowledge are passed between generations, while supporting Satyanara’s wider interest in cultural connections across Asia.

Together, the three exhibitions reflect Satyanara’s approach to art as a way of exploring history, identity, and cultural exchange.

Supporting Ubud’s Art Community

Building on the experience of Ubud Art Ground, Satyanara expands opportunities for artists and contemporary art communities in Bali. Its facilities are designed to support research, artistic development, collaboration, and professional networking, while its public programs offer visitors different ways to engage with art.

Beyond its exhibitions, Satyanara aims to create opportunities for artists and audiences to meet, exchange ideas, and learn from different cultural perspectives. Its focus on connections across Asia also provides a framework for bringing artistic practices and histories into dialogue.

The program is intended for a broad audience, including families, students, and local communities. The site has been designed to accommodate wheelchair users, and discounted or free admission will be available to students and communities on selected days.

Space for Art and Exchange

Located in the hills of Kedewatan, overlooking the Ayung River and surrounded by rice fields, Satyanara brings together exhibition spaces and facilities for artistic work. Each of its three galleries has a distinct curatorial focus, with exhibitions planned throughout the year.

The amphitheatre and workshop spaces will host performances, discussions, and creative activities, while the studios and residency facilities will support research and artistic development. A café and retail area offer additional spaces for visitors to spend time at the site.

Through these facilities and programs, Satyanara aims to support contemporary art in Bali while building relationships between artists, communities, and cultural institutions across Asia.

Visitor Information

Satyanara is located in Kedewatan, Ubud, Bali, and is open daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

Admission:

• Balinese residents: IDR 30,000

• Indonesian citizens: IDR 75,000

• International visitors: IDR 120,000

Discounted or free admission will be available to students and communities on selected days.