Arie Smit (1916–2016) was a Dutch-born Indonesian painter best known for his vibrant depictions of Bali’s landscapes, villages, temples, and everyday life. Born Adrianus Wilhelmus Smit in Zaandam, the Netherlands, he studied at the Academy of Arts in Rotterdam before moving to the Dutch East Indies. After World War II, he remained in Indonesia, later becoming an Indonesian citizen and teaching lithography in Bandung.
In 1956, Smit moved to Bali, where the island’s landscape and culture became the central inspiration for his work. His paintings are characterized by bright colours, decorative patterns, expressive compositions, and a strong sense of rhythm, often transforming Balinese scenery into imaginative and highly personal visual interpretations.
Smit also played an important role in the development of Balinese modern art. Around 1960, he encouraged young artists in Penestanan, Ubud, by providing them with painting materials and creative guidance. This initiative later became associated with the Young Artists movement, known for its colourful, spontaneous, and distinctive approach to Balinese subjects.
Throughout his career, Arie Smit exhibited widely and received recognition for his contribution to Indonesian art, including the Dharma Kusuma award from the Bali provincial government. He continued to live and work in Bali for much of his life and passed away in Denpasar in 2016. Today, he is remembered as an important figure in Indonesian and Balinese modern art, particularly for his unique synthesis of European artistic training and the visual culture of Bali.