Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono

B. 1949

Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, the 6th President of Indonesia from 2004 to 2014, was born in Pacitan, East Java on September 9, 1949. He is a statesman, military general, thinker, and artist. He graduated as the top cadet from the Military Academy in 1973, studied at the US Army Command and General Staff College, and earned a doctorate in Agricultural Economics from Institut Pertanian Bogor. He also serves as a professor at Universitas Pertahanan Indonesia.

In his reflective retirement, SBY has devoted himself to painting, music, and literature as mediums for contemplation and inner expression. For him, these practices are not merely hobbies, but a spiritual space to reflect on life, love, and service. To date, he has created more than 400 artworks across various media and techniques, including oil, acrylic, pastel, and finger painting, revealing an intimate connection between the artist and the canvas, as well as between intuition and color.

He has established a museum, gallery, and painting and music studios in Pacitan and Cikeas, serving as both creative spaces and visual archives of his inner journey. He has also built friendships with international artists, including those from Germany and the United States, and deepened his understanding of art through study and observation at international auction houses such as Christie’s. In early 2025, he initiated an art movement by founding the SBY Art Community. It is a collaborative platform that brings together scholars and artists from major Indonesian art institutions and independent practitioners, with a shared vision of art as a bridge for peace and a better future.