Basoeki Abdullah

1915 – 1993

Basoeki Abdullah (1915-1993) was a renowned Indonesian painter, celebrated for his mastery of realism. Trained in The Hague, he gained international recognition after winning an art contest for Queen Juliana of the Netherlands accession.

His exceptional talent caught the attention of Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno, who became one of his most prominent patrons. Abdullah was commissioned to paint Soekarno’s portrait, as well as those of numerous world leaders, including kings, presidents, and high-ranking officials. One of his notable works was painting portraits of all heads of state participating in the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in 1992.

In addition to his commissions, he held numerous exhibitions abroad, further solidifying his reputation as one of Indonesia’s most distinguished painters.