Citra Sasmita

Indonesia

Citra Sasmita was born in 1990 in Tabanan, Bali, Indonesia. Now lives and works in Singaraja. Citra Sasmita is a contemporary artist from Bali whose work focuses on unravelling the myths and misconceptions of Balinese art and culture.
She is deeply invested in questioning a woman’s place in the social hierarchy and seeks to upend the normative construct of gender. Her whimsical compositions representing geographies of female figures and various natural elements are executed in the Kamasan Balinese painterly language that Sasmita has been developing in her practice. While rooted in mythological thinking with Hindu and Balinese-specific references, the scenes are equally part of the contemporary process of imagining a secular and empowered mythology for a post-patriarchal future. 

Sasmita's recent works have been featured in “Under the skin” solo exhibition at Redbase Foundation Indonesia, Yogyakarta (2018), “Forms of Diversity” group exhibition at Redbase Foundation Indonesia, Yogyakarta (2018), “Passion of Three Kingdoms” group exhibition at Redbase Foundation Indonesia, Yogyakarta (2022).

Awards that Sasmita has received include Gold Winner UOB Painting of The Year 2017; Finalist for the Kompetisi Karya Trimatra at Salihara Jakarta (2016), and Semifinalist for the Bandung Contemporary Art Award #4 (BaCAA#4) in 2015.

Artworks

A handmade craft consisting of a heart-shaped base with a red yarn braid extending upward, attached to a white heart-shaped top. The background features handwritten text in black ink on white paper.

A handmade craft consisting of a heart-shaped base with a red yarn braid extending upward, attached to a white heart-shaped top. The background features handwritten text in black ink on white paper.

Painting of a woman with long black hair, sitting with her legs extended, next to a red chair. The background is turquoise, and the woman is wearing a black dress with white lines. Signed 'Citra Sasmito 2018' in red at the bottom left.

Painting of a woman with long black hair, sitting with her legs extended, next to a red chair. The background is turquoise, and the woman is wearing a black dress with white lines. Signed 'Citra Sasmito 2018' in red at the bottom left.

A mixed media artwork on a torn piece of paper depicts a reclining nude woman with long black hair, resting on a blue pillow, with her hand on her lips and a contemplative expression.

A mixed media artwork on a torn piece of paper depicts a reclining nude woman with long black hair, resting on a blue pillow, with her hand on her lips and a contemplative expression.

A mixed-media artwork of a woman with long flowing dark and white hair, wearing a traditional blue and gray draped garment, appears on a torn piece of cardboard.

A mixed-media artwork of a woman with long flowing dark and white hair, wearing a traditional blue and gray draped garment, appears on a torn piece of cardboard.

A painted metal silhouette of the state of Illinois featuring a woman with long dark hair, topless, with her hands over her stomach, and wearing a striped skirt, against a plain white background.

A painted metal silhouette of the state of Illinois featuring a woman with long dark hair, topless, with her hands over her stomach, and wearing a striped skirt, against a plain white background.

An art installation on a white wall featuring a long, twisted, red hair-like sculpture decorated with small gold chains, beads, and a gold clasp at one end.

An art installation on a white wall featuring a long, twisted, red hair-like sculpture decorated with small gold chains, beads, and a gold clasp at one end.

A painting of a woman with long dark braided hair, sitting against a blue background. To her left, a tangled mass of long black hair containing multiple small, pale faces with sad expressions. The woman is topless, wearing a white garment. The style

A painting of a woman with long dark braided hair, sitting against a blue background. To her left, a tangled mass of long black hair containing multiple small, pale faces with sad expressions. The woman is topless, wearing a white garment. The style is surreal with a haunting, somber mood.

Room with a window covered by a patterned curtain, sunlight outside, dark tiled floor with red text projected onto it.

Room with a window covered by a patterned curtain, sunlight outside, dark tiled floor with red text projected onto it.

A nude woman sitting on a blue chair with a white cloth covering her head, surrounded by a green cactus with red flowers. The background is gray, and the painting is signed 'Citra Yasinta 2019' in red at the bottom right.

A nude woman sitting on a blue chair with a white cloth covering her head, surrounded by a green cactus with red flowers. The background is gray, and the painting is signed 'Citra Yasinta 2019' in red at the bottom right.

An illustration of a nude humanoid figure with green snake-like hair, holding a sword with blood splatters, and wearing yellow pants, against a pink background.

An illustration of a nude humanoid figure with green snake-like hair, holding a sword with blood splatters, and wearing yellow pants, against a pink background.

Two round woven bamboo fans with white paper centers and small black central pins, positioned side by side on a white background.

Two round woven bamboo fans with white paper centers and small black central pins, positioned side by side on a white background.

A painting of two women with long dark hair, no shirts, holding a large piece of meat, with a blue background.

A painting of two women with long dark hair, no shirts, holding a large piece of meat, with a blue background.

Past Exhibitions