Suteja Neka is an art connoisseur. His father, I Wayan Neka, received recognation as the best carver in the province of Bali in 1960. He was the first Balinese to carve a three-metre tall statue of the Garuda bird for the Indonesia Pavillion at the New York world Fair in the United States of America in 1964, which was followed by another one for the same purpose at Expo '70 held in Osaka, Japan.
Suteja Neka begin collecting paintings of high quality due to his close friendship with Dutch artist Rudolf Bonnet and Arie Smit. In 1975 Suteja Neka and Bonnet travelled to Europe to view museum and galleries. Neka's aim to established a fine arts museum in Bali was reinforced by this journey. After years of planning, the Neka Museum officially was opened by then Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture, Dr Daoed Joesoef, on the 7th of July in 1982.
