Ubud Art & Culture

Ubud, which gained notoriety from the book and film Eat, Pray, Love, is also the heart of Balinese art and culture. This is where the contemporary Balinese art movement began.

Today, a number of top-notch local museums and galleries honor its traditions and evolution. As many collections are housed in traditional Balinese buildings surrounded by tranquil tropical gardens, looking at art here is very rewarding. Your first destinations should be the Neka Art Museum and Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA), both of which are close to the Ubud Monkey Forest and provide an overview of Balinese art. Traditional to modern art may be found in both collections, including kris (ceremonial daggers), photography, and traditional wayang paintings (puppet-figure paintings). Other art galleries and museums in the Ubud area include Setia Darma House of Masks & Puppets; Museum Puri Lukisan; Don Antonio Blanco Museum;...