PRANOTO, AHMAD RAJI (1952 - )

“Balinese Girl” (1979)
Watercolour
51.5 x 36cm
Signed upper right
*private collection, Sydney
 
Pranoto is a respected Indonesian painter. He was born in a small village outside Solo, Central Java. He was driven to be an artist from an early age, so he moved to Ubud, Bali in 1974 to pursue his dreams. He changed course from his background in batik to be a painter. Pranoto has enjoyed a successful career as a professional painter in Bali, known for his fascinating portraits of Balinese locals and culture. He has had solo and collective exhibitions throughout Indonesia and abroad, including Malaysia and Australia. His works are in numerous significant private collections also. He has become a fixture of the artist scene in Bali for over 45 years, and a mentor for young, up-and-coming artists in Ubud. Over the years he has collected his friends' work, which is what led to the establishment of Pranoto's Art Gallery in 1996.