Born in Pandeglang Banten in 1913, Agus Djaya completed his art studies at the Academy of Fine Arts Holland.

He had also an extensive study tour to France, Italy, Germany, and many European countries.

Agus Djaya had the most prominent role in the etablishment of the Indonesian Fine Art as a national conception. In 1937 together with S. Soedjojono he founded PERSAGI and became chairman of this first Indonesian Artists Association during the Dutch colonial time. Later he became also chairman of the Fine Art Department of the Indonesian cultural center 1942-1945.

He was widely acknowledged as a distinguished artist with a long record of exhibitions in many cultural centers here at home as well as abroad.