Oesman Effendi

1919 – 1985

Born in Padang, West Sumatra, Oesman Effendi was a self-taught artist who began painting in 1947. He was a member of Seniman Indonesia Muda. Beyond painting, he worked as a book cover illustrator and wrote extensively on culture and art.

In 1951, he was commissioned by Bank Indonesia to create imagery for the Indonesian currency. He later played a key role in Jakarta’s cultural development, serving as Chairman of the Jakarta Arts Council and founding Institut Kesenian Jakarta, Taman Ismail Marzuki, and Amir Hamzah Mosque.

Oesman was also active in education, lecturing at the Cultural Center (1950s), Tarumanegara University (1970–1971), and the Jakarta LPKJ Academy of Fine Arts (1972).