CITRA SASMITA
b. 1990, IndonesiaCitra Sasmita is a Balinese artist whose practice focuses on dismantling the myths and misconceptions of local art and culture in Bali, Indonesia. She is also deeply invested in questioning a woman’s place in society and seeks to upend the normative constructs of gender. Sasmita engages with the Indonesian Kamasan painting technique, which dates from the fifteenth century and traditionally practiced exclusively by men, to reimagine and reinvent epics of war and romance as a reclaimation of female agency. Her works reflect the complexity between the Anthropocene, post-human, and feminism while simultaneously repositioning women within the historical canon – an action that is necessarily urgent in her Balinese environment.
A self-taught artist, Citra Sasmita studied literature and physics at Udayana University and Ganesha University of Education, then worked as a short story illustrator for the Bali Post before she began developing her expanded artistic practice.
Sasmita’s work has been featured in numerous biennales including the Sharjah Biennial 16 (2025), the Hawaii Triennale (2025), the Toronto Biennale (2024), the 24th Biennale of Sydney (2024); Diriyah Contemporary Art Biennale, Saudi Arabia (2024); 3rd Thailand Biennale, Chiangrai (2024); 35th São Paolo Biennale (2023); Kathmandu Triennale 2077, Nepal (2022); Biennale Jogja, Yogyakarta, Indonesia (2019). In 2025, she also had her first solo exhibition in the UK at Barbican, The Curve, London and in 2026, her first Nordic solo exhibition at Kunsthall Stavanger, Norway.
Her works are held in public and private collections worldwide, including among them the Ministry of Culture Saudi Arabia, Sharjah Art Foundation, The Bunker Art Space, Longlati Foundation, Tanoto Foundation, Yan Du Foundation and Morgan Stanley.
Courtesy Yeo Workshop
Works at Yeo Workshop
Recently Exhibited
Works Elsewhere
Explore and Follow Artists Shaping Contemporary Art
A respected voice in contemporary art discourse.
Focusing on ambitious storytelling and insightful art-world commentary. Ocula Magazine publishes in-depth interviews, critical essays and timely analysis on the artists, exhibitions and ideas driving the global art world.
Learn more about Ocula Magazine
Showcasing the best of the art world.
Ocula partners with galleries from around the world to highlight their artists, artworks and exhibitions. Gallery membership is by application and invitation, with each member vetted by an independent panel.
Learn more about Ocula Membership
Specialises in the sale of major artworks.
Led by a team with deep ties to the world’s leading auction houses, galleries and collectors. Ocula’s advisory team offers bespoke services to high-net-worth clients from around the world who are looking to acquire the best of contemporary and modern art.
Learn more about our team and services