A painter whose works are known for their strong character and personal style, Stefan Buana Sy was born in Padang Panjang, Indonesia, and lived his life there until he moved to the city of Yogyarta outside the capital city of Jakarta. His father, who was a naval officer, also worked as a sketch artist documenting his world travels with the Navy, and the young Stefan grew up immersed by his father in the artworks of Picasso and Paul Gauguin. By the time he was ready to attend college, he first made a trip to Bali where he ended up for one year. Having an opportunity to attend the Indonesian Art Institute in Yogyarta, he made a trip there deciding never again to return.

As a contemporary southeast Asian artist, he deploys a variety and range of styles and innovative techniques.

His desire to experiment with his work as part of the creative process influences much of his artwork. From his experimenting he discovered his own technique which he calls "faux crackling". By applying his paints near a heated surface, he is able to achieve a crackled effect on the surface of his painting. He has created numerous works using this technique.

Buana Sy continues to experiment with and develop new techniques in creating his artwork with oils, color, and other forms of media.

Many of his works are filled with social and political criticism of his government. "It's time to wake up", Stefan Buana Sy exclaims. "The world is in a mess and we need to come to our senses to do something about it. Now is the time to act."

In other works it seems as if the artist is tracing his childhood memories through his paintings. Characterized by simple form and color, the imagery becomes the central focus of the painting. Visages sketched in expressive and spontaneous fashion are inspirational of life in the village where he grew up.

As well as people, Buana Sy is always conscious of symbols, drawing for the most part on the animal world for inspiration. The elephant, the horse, and the majestic hammerhead shark all reflect what he describes as "the context of my current existence." Then he takes basic materials like rice, sawdust and string to bring relief to images that he conjures up in dark, shadowy forms with sparse use of colour. much like the seamy reality he seeks to portray.