Born in Pandeglang, West Java, in 1913, Agus Djaya studied at the Rijksakademie van Beeldende Kunsten and the University of Amsterdam’s Faculty of Journalism (1947–1949), under the guidance of Willem van der Berg and Van Thienen. During his time in Europe, he met leading artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Ossip Zadkine.

On October 23, 1938, S. Sudjojono and Agus Djaya made great history by pioneering the establishment of the Indonesian Association of Drawing Artists (Persatuan Ahli Gambar Indonesia or PERSAGI), with Sudjojono serving as its secretary and spokesperson. The founding of Persagi is widely recognized as the milestone that marked the birth of modern Indonesian painting. The appeal and spirit of renewal championed by Persagi successfully attracted other legendary painters to join, including Affandi, Emiria Soenassa, Otto Djaya, and Soedibio.

His work was exhibited widely in Indonesia and abroad, including a notable solo show at the Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam. He received the Grand Prix de la Peinture de Monaco (1947) and L’Oscar de Peinture in Zagreb (1965), and was awarded Indonesia’s Art Award in 1993. His legacy includes founding an art studio in Bali (1953) and the Agus Djaya Foundation in Jakarta.