Art Jakarta has long stood as a dynamic heartbeat of the region’s contemporary art scene. Since its inception under MRA Media, the fair has evolved into Indonesia’s most significant art event—a meeting point where collectors, curators, artists, and enthusiasts converge to celebrate Southeast Asia’s creative spirit.
This year, Art Jakarta 2025 returned with an invigorated energy, taking place from October 3 to 5 at JIExpo Kemayoran. Reflecting the ever-resilient art scenes, this year’s fair presented a formidable line-up of 75 galleries from 16 countries across Asia and beyond.
What set Art Jakarta 2025 apart was the heightened international profile and the securing of several notable global participants. This included the prominent European gallery Esther Schipper from Berlin; Kaikai Kiki Gallery, the art institution founded by renowned Japanese artist Takashi Murakami; and Tina Keng Gallery from Taipei, celebrated for bringing Taiwanese and Chinese artists to the global stage. The participation of such esteemed international names reinforced Art Jakarta’s increasingly vital role in Southeast Asia’s art ecosystem. Furthermore, local engagement remained robust, with more than half of the participants being Indonesian galleries and 15 joining for the very first time.
At the heart of this year’s edition were the Lead Partners—Julius Baer, Bibit, Treasury, and BCA—each contributing a unique artistic statement through special presentations.
Julius Baer honoured its Swiss roots and Asian presence by collaborating with acclaimed Indonesian artist Eddie Hara, showcasing his works, including the bold and humorous new piece, “CALL 911. DESTROY BAD ART”, within the Julius Baer VIP Lounge. Investment platform Bibit, together with Stockbit, presented a new iteration of Agus Suwage’s monumental self-portrait work, “Self Portrait and the Theatre Stage”, comprising 60 painted zinc panels, under the theme “Portrait of Possibilities”. Digital gold investment platform Treasury featuredthe immersive, multisensory installation “Reserve of Care”, created by Azizi Al Majid and Nuri Fatimah, the winning artists of the second Treasury Art Prize. Lastly, banking giant BCA’s myBCA Space hosted an interactive presentation by the celebrated artist Muklay, titled “Petualangan Si Jabrik di Dunia myBCA”, featuring his iconic character.
Beyond the main exhibitions, the fair featured several acclaimed sections. SPOT was dedicated to curated solo projects and special installations by Indonesian artists, including Ardi Gunawan, Ipeh Nur, Endry Pragusta, Aditya Novali, and Adi Gunawan. SCENE, the fair’s grassroots platform, gathered 31 participants from across the archipelago, spotlighting the vibrant talents that thrives beyond the metropolitan spotlight.
The AJX section, highlighting institutional collaborations, included the Korea Focus, featuring 12 young Korean galleries, and “Arus Baru” (“Rising Currents”), an exhibition of works by emerging Indonesian artists curated by Agung Hujatnika for MTN (Manajemen Talenta Nasional). In addition, Nata-Citta Art Space (NCAS) from ISI Bali brought cutting-edge works from 11 Balinese artists who are also academics.
Equally vital were the fair’s public programmes, which offered a robust itinerary of curated 5 talks, book launches, discussions and engaging performances. Highlights included talks on art collecting, contemporary printmaking, and the archive of Indonesian photography legend Melani Setiawan, as well as live performances by artists like Ardi Gunawan and Victoria Kosasie. Furthermore, complimentary guided tours led by professional curators offered visitors a deeper engagement with the artworks.
Art Jakarta 2025 was poised to be an unmissable event, not only for its extensive collection of artwork but also as a stimulating international forum that provided valuable insights into the latest developments shaping the contemporary art scene. In its 15th year, the fair reaffirmed its place as a cultural crossroads, uniting communities through art, dialogue, and imagination.
