Born in a small town in Bali, Nyoman Nuarta came to Bandung in the early 1970s to study fine art at Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

Nyoman Nuarta spent his early childhood in a village called Tegallinggah, Bali. Brought up by his Kelihan Adat (village chief) uncle, Nuarta grew up very close to nature and learned the importance of preserving the harmonious relationship between human, nature, and their Creator. Therefore, many of his artworks clearly reflect this important Balinese philosophy known as the Trihita Karana.

In 1977, he became part of the ‘Gerakan Seni Rupa Baru Indonesia’ (the Indonesian New Art Movement) and shortly after, Nyoman Nuarta’s professional career began. He won the Sayembara Patung Proklamator Kemerdekaan Negara Republik Indonesia (the Proclamator Monument Contest for the Independence Day of the Republic of Indonesia) in 1979 just before he graduated from ITB. Nuarta was appointed to build the statue of Sukarno, the founding father and first president of Indonesia.

As an artist and a sculptor, Nyoman Nuarta has produced more than 200 artworks presented both nationally and internationally through his solo and group exhibitions as well as the Biennials and Triennials. He attained international recognitions through awards given by Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, Singapore (1989), Indonesia Culture Exhibition, KIAS, United States of America (1992), Urban Art Contest, Paris, France (1992), REDAS Competition Singapore (1993), APEC Sculpture Garden Manila, Philippines (1996), and Padma Shri, India (2018).