Art Jakarta 2026: Expanding Connections Through Art
Art Jakarta recently wrapped up its 2026 edition at JIExpo Kemayoran, Jakarta.
Words Jewel Chuaunsu
Photos courtesy of Art Jakarta
October 23, 2026
Held from October 2 to 4, Art Jakarta drew 41,646 visitors, continuing its steady growth over the past few years. From thought-provoking installations to cross-industry collaborations, this year’s Fair presented a dynamic program, reaffirming its position as a consistent presence in the art world. The event brought together 75 galleries, including 33 international participants, with 19 galleries joining the fair for the first time.
SPOT: Personal Narratives and Cultural Heritage
The installations presented in SPOT reflected the personal concerns, interests, beliefs, and cultural heritage of its five participating artists.
Striking in both impact and simplicity, Pulse 1 and Pulse 2 by Nguyen Phuong Linh (ara contemporary) used bright red printed PVC sheets to evoke textures of flesh, bodily fluids, internal organs, and even landscapes.
"Pulse 1" and "Pulse 2" by Nguyen Phuong Linh
Combining intaglio prints on gypsum with etched copper plates, Mammalian Locomotion by Henryette Louise (ArtSociates) questioned notions of inevitable progress, constant production, and acceleration. The artist considered awareness, responsiveness, and attunement as alternative ways of inhabiting the present.
ROH presented works by Albertho Wanma and Budi Santoso. Wanma’s The Nature Womb (Karwar Series) reanimated the cultural heritage of his native Biak. In Biak culture, Karwar statues serve as temporary abodes for the spirits of the deceased, playing a special role in honoring ancestors and communicating with the spiritual realm. Santoso’s Mother Trees, carved from jackfruit wood, drew out human features from the material, symbolizing familial bonds and our connection to the natural world.
"Berbunga-bunga: Tribute to Red Cross Movement in South Papua" by Angki Purbandono
The Berbunga-bunga series by Angki Purbandono (SAL Project) featured various flowers captured using a flatbed scanner and displayed in light boxes. The installation paid tribute to South Papua’s Red Cross Movement, an Indigenous grassroots campaign in which local Christian communities erect tall, red-painted wooden crosses as symbols of resistance. Strategically placed on customary lands and rainforests threatened by government-backed development, corporate logging, and land grabbing, the crosses assert the communities’ connection to and protection of their ancestral territories.
Creative Experiences Beyond the Booth
The Fair’s Lead Partners integrated art into their branding through special presentations and creatively designed booths.
The Julius Bär VIP Lounge unveiled recent works by Handiwirman Saputra, alongside a collaborative artwork and an activation that allowed guests to customize their own art prints.
Julius Bär VIP Lounge
myBCA District One introduced young people to a more accessible approach to banking through a gamified experience and various activities at its interactive booth.
Bibit collaborated with artist Endry Pragusta on Lost at Sea. Inspired by Théodore Géricault’s The Raft of the Medusa, the work conveyed how education and financial literacy can serve as valuable tools for navigating uncertain times.
"Gravity of the Unheld" by Etza Meisyara, presented by Treasury.
Gravity of the Unheld by Etza Meisyara, presented by Treasury, explored the shift from physical, tangible assets such as gold to intangible, digital, and perceptual forms of value in the modern age. Combining metal elements, sound, light, and scent, the work created a multisensory, interactive experience.
Art Meets Lifestyle
From The Curiosity Engine, created by Aji Fajar/Palette Studio for TACO, to the unveiling of the MINI Paul Smith Edition, and the coffee experience presented by DJOURNAL in collaboration with street artist Darbotz, the Main Partners offered experiences that bridged art and lifestyle. Other Main Partners included SUPERMUSIC, iFORTE, ALCHEMIST, Aesop, The Solitaire, MR. D.I.Y., EDISII, and AIA.
"The Curiosity Engine," created by Aji Fajar/Palette Studio for TACO.
One standout installation was Hutan Kabel by Agnes Hansella, which transformed thousands of meters of discarded cable waste provided by iFORTE into an immersive environment. The installation responded to visitors’ movements as optical fibers were activated by interactive sensors in real time.
Referencing a mycorrhizal network, often called the “wood wide web,” Hutan Kabel drew inspiration from the underground web of fungal threads that connects the roots of different plants. The work evoked the idea of an unspoken language of nature existing beneath our feet.
MR.D.I.Y. Regional Art Competition 2026
MR. D.I.Y. presented an exhibition featuring the winners of its Regional Art Competition. Under the theme “Strength & Resilience,” this year’s 19 awardees came from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Making its debut in Jakarta, The Aesop Women’s Library attracted long queues of visitors. Seven books by female authors were selected for the library, with visitors invited to take home a complimentary copy.
Regional Perspectives
In partnership with South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Arts Management Service, Korea Focus returned with 14 young, forward-looking galleries from Korea. Meanwhile, SCENE brought together 39 artist collectives and collaborative projects from cities across Indonesia.
MTN Market X AJ Scope
A new section, AJ Scope, also debuted at the Fair. Supported by MTN Seni Budaya, a national program under the Ministry of Culture, AJ Scope provided a platform for independent art fairs across Indonesia. Featuring six regional initiatives, the section extended the Fair’s reach beyond the country’s established art centers and highlighted regional art ecosystems.
Looking Ahead
With Art Jakarta Papers returning in February, followed by Art Jakarta Gardens in May 2027, the Fair aims to build on its current momentum and further expand its presence in the regional and international art scenes.
