author

In 1986 Richard Horstman (b. 1964 Melbourne, Australia) first visited Ubud, Bali. He then returned to Bali and other parts of Indonesia annually, pursuing his passion for surfing. His interest in Eastern cultures  inspired him to travel throughout South East Asia. In the early 1990’s he began making sculptures, exhibiting and selling works from his home studio on Phillip Island.

In 2004 Richard began living in Bali, he currently resides in Ubud, the island’s cultural and artistic heartland. His experience in Indonesia totals more than 25 years. He regularly visits museums and galleries attending fairs, exhibition openings, art discussions, auctions, and cultural programs locally, nationally, and in the region.  Richard’s passion for art inspired him to write articles, first being published in Indonesia in 2007.

Richard’s role is as a bridge between the public and the art world, to aid in the communication of art and its understandings. He contributes articles and essays to the print and online media, and exhibition catalogues, while actively communicating with artists, curators, collectives,  galleries and art spaces, art lovers, collectors and the public.

Since January 2018 he has been the art columnist for NOW!Bali Magazine and from 2023 the art columnist for NOW!Jakarta Magazine and was temporarily the Contributing Editor Indonesia for Asian Art News & World Sculpture News Magazines from 2019. Richard was the art columnist for UbudLife Magazine and a Bali contributor to the Jakarta Post newspaper for 10 years. He has contributed to the Jakarta Globe newspaper and digital art media in the region, including Art & Market.net, Plural Art Magazine, Art Republik Magazine and ArtLink Magazine Australia. His clients include Larasati Auctioneers and Zeeuws Veilinghuis Auctioneers in the Netherlands.

Richard was an advisor to Cata Odata Art House in Ubud 2014 – 2018 then at Ubud Diary, a specialist gallery for the Ubud School of Painting from May 2019 until the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. On 30 November 2019 his book Ubud Diary: Celebrating the Ubud School of Painting – the Diversity of the Visual Language. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Bali Art Society 2014-2015. Well known in Bali for his contributions behind-the-scenes he is also an art tourism presenter. He has consulted professionally and non-professionally to artists, collectives and galleries, some of his clients include Larasati Auctioneers and Zeeuws Veilinghuis Auctioneers in the Netherlands.

In November 2022 Richard began initial steps for his next book, WINDS OF CHANGE: Women in Bali Art, the first study into the pioneering women in Balinese art, due to be published late in 2024. As an art activist Richard has a strong social platform and is committed sharing ideas and brainstorming with artists, gallerists, museum owners, auction houses and collectives about professional structuring, communications, vision, branding, building community and the on going development of the Bali art infrastructure. 

Follow Richard on Instagram to be updated on his most recent articles and art happenings in Bali: @lifeasartasia