I Wayan Upadana was born in 1983 in Gianyar, Bali. He graduated in Sculpture from the Indonesian Institute of the Arts (ISI) Yogyakarta in 2008.
Upadana’s artistic practice explores identity, spirituality, and the complexities of modern Balinese society. Often working with resin and wood, he creates organic, hybrid forms that question consumer culture, globalization, and cultural commodification. His Illusion of Identity series features faceless figures as metaphors for the loss of individuality in a standardized, fast-paced world. 

In 2022, Upadana participated in Cross of the Matter at Redbase Art Sydney, and continued his collaboration with Redbase in several international platforms including Aotearoa Art Fair in Auckland (2024, 2025), Melbourne Art Fair (2024), Art Jakarta (2024), and Sydney Contemporary (2024). 

He has received several recognitions, including being a finalist for the Bandung Contemporary Art Award and UOB Painting of the Year in 2011, as well as the Trimata National Art Award in 2013.