Sinta Tantra (b. 1979, New York) is a British artist of Balinese descent. She studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, University College London between 1999–2003 and later continued her studies in art at the Royal Academy Schools in London, graduating in 2006. Tantra describes herself as a painter working on an architectural scale. By using abstract geometric style, exploring colour, identity, and narratives, she questions the function of spaces in her work. Sinta Tantra is highly regarded for her site-specific murals and installations in the public realm. 

 

Solo exhibitions include (Upcoming) Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Palm Beach, USA (2025); The Light Club of Batavia, Pitzhanger Manor & Gallery, London, UK (2024); Shrines of Gaeity, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London, UK (2023);  All You Could Hear, Richard Koh Gallery, Bangkok (2023); Art Singapore, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Singapore (2023); Constellations of Being, ISA Gallery, Jakarta (2022); On Being Blue; Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Nevlunghavn (2022); Birds of Paradise, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Berlin (2021); Modern Times, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (2020); A House in Bali, ISA Gallery, Jakarta (2017); Fantastic / Chromatic, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, London (2015) Essence of a Thing, House of St. Barnabas, London (2005); Dynamic, Maximum, Tension, Liverpool Biennial, Liverpool (2011); Politics of Seduction, Stanley Picker Gallery, Kingston University, London (2010).

 

Group exhibitions include Fates and Furies, Appetite, Singapore (2024); The 2024 Sovereign Asian Art Prize Finalists Exhibition, 9/F, Hong Kong (2024); By The Means at Hand, Pavillion of Croatia 60th Biennale di Venezia, Italy (2024); Expo Chicago, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Chicago, USA (2024); Art Moments Jakarta, Sheraton Grand Jakarta, Gandaria City, Jakarta (2023); Where the Wild Roses Grow, Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery, Schloss Görne, Germany (2023);  KIWARI: Narasi Identitas dan Kefanaan, Tumurun Museum, Surakarta, Indonesia (2023); Women Group Show, ISA Gallery, Jakarta (2023);  Sua Kuasa Matra, ISA Gallery, Jakarta (2023); Art Jakarta Gardens, ISA Gallery, Jakarta (2023); A New Paradise, Saatchi Gallery, London (2022); Small is Beautiful: 40th Edition, Flowers Gallery London (2022);  Y: Collect 3.0, Ruci Art Space, Jakarta (2019);  Karachi Biennial, Pakistan (2019); Small is Beautiful, Flowers Gallery, London (2018); London Graphic, Thameside Studios, London (2018); Hornby Tantra, Works III, Broadgate, London (2018);  Voyage to Indonesia, The World Bank, Washington DC (2018); High Noon, Accademia Belle Arti di Rome, Rome (2017);  Changing Perspective, Jogja National Museum, Yogyakarta (2017); London (2017); Lost and Found: Place, Space; Identity, the World Trade Centre, Jakarta (2016); among more.

 

Highlights and collections

Sinta Tantra’s artworks can be found in international private and public collections, including Government Art Collection UK; Louis Vuitton Collection Southeast Asia; Karachi Biennale; Benetton Collection; Folkestone Triennial, Canary Wharf; Tumurun Museum, Indonesia; Museum MACAN, Indonesia. In 2024, Tantra was nominated for the Sovereign Asian Art Prize. Tantra is a recipient of many awards including the Bridget Riley Drawing Fellow at The British School at Rome (2017); Shortlisted for the Jerwood Contemporary Painting Prize (2015); British Council’s International Development Award (2014); First Prize, Painting and Decorating Industry Award (2012);The Royal British Society of Sculptors AHRBS (2012); British Council Grant (2009); Courvoisir ‘The Future 500’ in partnership with The Observer Newspaper (2009); Arts Council England (2007);  and Deutsche Bank Award (2006), Paul Smith Scholarship at the Royal Academy of  Arts (2003-2006) and the Henry Moore Sculpture Fund (2002).

 
Public commissions include: Sunset Ombre, One Satrio, Mega Kunigan, Jakarta (2022); Pink Moon Rising, Seolhaewon, Gangwon-Do (2021); Temple of Flora, Ocean Flower Island, Hainan (2021); Illuminated, 22 Bishopsgate, London commissioned by Contemporary Art Society (2021); The Grand Tour, Dulwich Picture Gallery, London (2020); The Crossing Mount Daemo, The H Honor Hills, Seoul commissioned by Hyundai (2021); Poins Square, Jakarta (2020); Horizon to Horizon, Sharjah Islamic Arts Festival, Sharjah (2019); Bright Dawn, Karachi Biennale, Karachi (2019); Compose Motions and Tasted Flight, Honer Hills, Seoul commissioned by Hyundai (2019); Sunset in Tanah Lot, Facebook, London (2018); Collaboration with Nick Hornby, Broadgate sites, London (2018); In the Mood for Love, Lee Tung Avenue, Hong Kong (2018); Paintworks, commissioned by Crest Nicholson, Bristol (2018); 1947, Folkestone Triennial, Folkestone (2017); Pailo Drappallone, Commune di Siena, Italy (2017); Diamond Minutes, Hana Bank, Incheon, Korea (2017); The Sound of Colour, St. Paul’s Way Medical Centre, London (2017); A Union in Partition, private commission, London (2016); A Means of Liberation, Newnham College, Cambridge University (2016); Songdo, South Korean Government, South Korea (2015); Sensory Garden, Bristol Royal Infirmary Hospital, Bristol (2015); The Eccentricity of Zero, Royal British Society Sculptors, London (2015); Greater Reality of Elsewhere, Locwus International, Swansea (2015); The Eccentricity of Zero, Royal British Society of Sculptors, Holland Park, London (2013); Together Yet Forever Apart, Liverpool Biennial, Liverpool (2012); A Beautiful Sunset Mistaken For a Dawn, Canary Wharf, London (2012); A Good Time and a Half!, Southbank Centre, London (2007). Neon Tetra, CreateKX, Camley Street Natural Park, London (2007); Isokon Dreams, London Borough of Camden, Regents Park Bridge, London (2007); Line Up, Platform for Art, Piccadily Tube Station, London (2007); Emporia, London Fashion Week’s On|Off, 6 Burlington Gardens, London (2006); Party Surprise, Christchurch University, Canterbury (2006);  Tantra’s most notable public work includes a 300-metre long painted bridge commissioned for the 2012 Olympics, Canary Wharf, London.