Deddy Kusuma

1980 - Art Collector; Organizer at Grand Palais in Paris; Chairman at Board of Patrons of Art Stage Jakarta; Also over time his private collection has grown to include both modern and contemporary works by leading Indonesian artists (e.g. Masriadi, Handiwirman Saputra, Umi Dachlan, Hendra Gunawan, Sudjojono, Affandi etc.), as well as works by Chinese and international artists.

He has been active in the art fair / collector circuits; participates in patron boards (e.g. Art Stage Jakarta), supports young artists, travels to artist studios (including abroad), promotes the international recognition of Indonesian art.

Public sources do not list formal national/international awards he has won for collecting, but his recognition comes via media, art fair prominence, and being singled out in “top collectors” lists (copyright: Tatler Asia)

Chairman of Board of Patrons of Art Stage Jakarta, included among prominent collector networks; participating in exhibitions and fairs as a collector/patron.

Among his achievements: organising Indonesian contemporary art exhibition in Paris at the Grand Palais (coordinated and financed); building a collection that spans decades and that both shares and promotes Indonesian art; helping elevate the visibility of younger artists like Masriadi; creating patronage structures and being part of conversations around how collections are shown to the public (copyright: Tatler Asia & Forbes)

English

Passion for art collecting; designing how art is displayed; exploring new media in art presentation; traveling and visiting artist studios; hosting art-related social events.

His chance to organize and finance a large scale Indonesian contemporary art show at Grand Palais in Paris (2010) is something he has spoken of as fulfilling a dream to move Indonesian art into the global stage. Another memorable moment: when he first collected works by Masriadi long before they were widely known, and seeing their value and reputation grow internationally (copyright: Tatler Asia & Forbes).

He hosts collectors’ dinners, displays portions of his private collection in media events (garden-soireés), participates as Board Patron in Art Stage Jakarta, supports young artists through friendship and travel with them.

His success arises from being a collector who combines aesthetic passion (grounded in architectural training) with entrepreneurial courage, seeing both love for art and responsibility to promote it; by investing over decades, being willing to take the risk of showing Indonesian art abroad, and being generous in his support to younger artists and the collector community (copyright: Tatler Asia, The Jakarta Post, ISA Art & Design, ArtStage Jakarta)