Reconnect With Your City: Get inspired at 10 best art galleries in Bangkok

The third outpost of this Hong Kong-born art space follows a second venue in Los Angeles and precedes a fourth one in Paris. Located in the Odeon Circle area, steps away from The Chinatown Gate, Bangkok’s Over the Influence sits in a five-floor building that used to be an auto parts shop. It features uniquely designed exhibition spaces, cool lighting arrangements, and a rooftop that can host creative and lifestyle activities, from live music performances to workshops.

Similar to its original headquarters in Hong Kong, the Bangkok establishment takes pride in supporting and providing a platform for artists—both local and international—whose works and mindsets challenge political and social norms. Famous names who have exhibited their work in Over the Influence include American contemporary artist Todd James and Italian sculpturist Marco Pagani.

📍 Odean Circle, Yaowarat
☎️ bkk@overtheinfluence.com / Website / Facebook / Instagram
🕒 Wed-Sun (11:00-20:00)

This up-and-coming gallery started out as a hashtag on Instagram—an initiative by creative minds who were struggling to find a space to express themselves. It recently found a physical home on Soi Sukhumvit 3/1 (near BTS Nana), and markets itself as a venue that  emphasizes positive social change through a wide range of art formats, from paintings to photography to motion pictures. Another objective is to promote Thai art and culture and to help push the country’s creative industry forward.

In less than a year, Creativbkk has made waves by hosting provocative shows like COEXISTENCE, the body- and sex-positive collection of Pisut Srisuwan; and CHROMA, the interdisciplinary exhibition by sexual healthcare organization PULSE.

📍 Soi Sukhumvit 3/1
☎️ 08 2456 0199 / bkkcreativ@gmail.com / Website / Facebook / Instagram
🕒 Mon-Sat (10:00-19:00)

Not only is he the icon in the history of Thai silk with the self-titled brand globally known for the quality and delicate garment, but Jim Thompson is also the well-regarded title in Bangkok’s art and culture scene with the Southeast Asia-focused museum on Soi Kasemsan 2. Early in 2022, the venue revealed the extension of its Art Center section with a larger and all-new space that can do more than just hosting art shows.

Jim Thompson Art Center (JTAC) now includes a massive four-floor building that’s able to accommodate everything from art showcases to social events. While there are some cool events from international artists, the line-up usually covers exhibitions by Thai artists who focus on contemporary sensibilities like Dusadee Huntrakul and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. All in all, don’t you miss the William Warren Library on your visit for the peaceful ambience and an amazing selection of art and textile books.

📍 Soi Kasemsan 2
☎️ 0 2216 7368 / artcenter@jimthompsonhouse.com / Website / Facebook / Instagram
🕒 Mon-Sat (10:00-19:00)

A group of teachers and students from Chachoengsao has brought their shared passion for art to the hipster neighborhood of Ari with Manycuts Artspace. Art lovers can pop in to check out a contemporary art show by an emerging Thai artist or participate in talks and discussions. 

Manycuts is also geared at encouraging thoughts and ideas that may be considered challenging to the local audience. Current exhibition Boundaries of Time by Wana Wanlayangkoon, for instance, explores Thai politics through a series of edgy paintings inspired by Greek mythology and Thai art.

📍 Soi Ari 3, Phaholyothin Road
☎️ 08 4388 1488 / manycuts.ari@gmail.com / Facebook
🕒 Mon-Sat (10:00-19:00)

Bangkok CityCity Gallery is a leader in the city’s art scene for a few great reasons. First, the venue has always been one of the first to recognize modern and immersive art by emerging young artists (famed indie filmmaker Nawapol Thamrongrattanarit exhibited at the gallery before he broke into the mainstream). Second, it’s a go-to spot for hip kids who come to appreciate art and to take cool shots against the structure’s minimalist aesthetics for their Insta.

Third, Bangkok CityCity Gallery sometimes transforms into a makeshift theater for independent plays by Thai showrunners, with the recent one being Four Days in September (The Missing Comrade), a play about Thailand’s absolute monarchy in the past.

📍 Soi Sathorn 1
☎️ 08 3087 2725 / info@bangkokcitycity.com / Website / Facebook / Instagram
🕒 Thu-Sun (13:00-18:00)

The Wang Tha Phra Campus of Silpakorn University, one of Thailand’s oldest and most venerable institutions for fine arts, has a space where its students and masters can showcase their work within a heritage site (the building used to be part of Wang Thapra Palace).

Throughout the year, the venue plays host to shows that promote world-class contemporary art. From time to time, the gallery recruits international artists to curate and show their work alongside that of Thai artists. Ex Space is one of the gallery’s permanent features wherein the university collaborates with the Centre Pompidou in Paris for special exhibitions.

📍 Na Phra Lan Road
☎️ 09 2298 0092 / su.artcentre@gmail.com / Website / Facebook / Instagram
🕒 Thu-Sun (13:00-18:00)

Located on the outskirts of Bangkok in Chatuchak, this massive art space has benefited from the recently launched Red Line commuter rail system, which has significantly cut down the commute to the museum. The line has a stop in Bang Khen, which is only a four-minute walk away.

The five-floor building, which in itself is stunning, displays more than 800 pieces of art in its permanent exhibition—the personal collection of gallery owner Boonchai Bencharongkul. Once in a while, the museum also hosts exhibitions by some of Thailand’s most prominent art figures like national artists Thawan Duchanee, Sasiwimon, and Chalermchai Kositpipat.

📍 Kamphaengpet 6 Road, Chatuchak
☎️ 0 2016 5666 /  info@mocabangkok.com / Website / Facebook / Instagram
🕒 Tue-Sun (10:00-18:00)

Photography is having its moment in Bangkok, which is one of the reasons why HOP (Hub of Photography) came to be. HOP’s location may be out of the way for tourists (it’s located in Seacon Square Srinagarindra), but it doesn’t seem to bother local fans of captured art, who flock to the site to get inspired by an ever-changing line-up of exhibitions by both local and international photographers.

Aside from a gallery, HOP also has Whoop!, an open floor where the public can showcase their work; and FOTO Info Learning Center and Common Space, where you can improve your photography skills. 

📍 Seacon Square Srinagarindra (3/F)
☎️ Facebook / Instagram
🕒 Daily (11:00-19:00)

Bangkok’s most renowned art establishment is itself a work of art. The massive building consists of nine floors constructed in a cylindrical structure (a great snapshot for every visitor), with each floor hosting a different exhibition. 

Located in the heart of the city (about five minutes away from BTS Siam), BACC welcomes people—both locals and tourists—from all walks of life, even activists who hold demonstrations in the spacious square in front of the museum. That aside, BACC is a great place to have an all-round art experience, as it hosts everything from film screenings to plays and concerts, to talks and workshops. It also has quiet corners where you can sit down with your books and thoughts.

📍 Rama 1 Road
☎️ 0 2214 6630 / info.bacc.bkk@gmail.com / Website / Facebook / Instagram
🕒 Tue-Sun (10:00-20:00)

Set in a century-old house on Soi Charoenkrung 30 that used to be a Chinese-language school, ATT 19 acts as a showroom for mostly sculptures and installation art, such as the current exhibition Indonesian Primitive Arts, which includes artifacts and sculptures made by indigenous tribes in Indonesia.

From time to time, ATT 19 hosts workshops where guests can explore their own creativity in painting, flower arrangement and the like. The fact that it’s located in one of Bangkok’s most creative districts, surrounded by art-focused neighbors like Warehouse 30 and River City Bangkok, makes it a perfect addition to a one-day itinerary dedicated to art appreciation in town.

📍 Soi Charoenkrung 30
☎️ Facebook / Instagram
🕒 Tue-Sun (11:00-19:00) 

Calling itself as the “leading Thai contemporary art” venue, SAC Gallery is a private-run institute born out of the intention to drive the art scene in the country to an international level. There are two separate buildings you can wander around and find inspiration from Thai artists taking turns to flaunt their creativity.

Opened since 2012, SAC has played host to over 100 art exhibitions, most of which deal with heavy and controversial topics like The L/Royal Monument and Monster. SAC Residency Program is also another feature that renders the gallery itself as one of the leaders in the country’s art scene, as it discovers and cultivates talented young artists from all over the kingdom.

📍 Soi Charoenkrung 39
☎️ 02 258 5580 / info@sac.gallery / Website / Facebook / Instagram
🕒 Tue-Sun (11:00-19:00)

For the best experience of art exploration in Bangkok, check into the five-star riverside hotel Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers on Soi Charoenkrung 30. Recharge yourself and enjoy relaxing service in one of its newly-renovated rooms and suites overlooking the vistas of Chao Phraya River. What’s more, the location is in a close proximity (walking distance, we daresay!) to popular art hubs, namely Warehouse 30 and River City Bangkok. You can easily hop on a tuk tuk ride to popular eating and drinking neighborhood Chinatown in Yaowarat for a full-flavored night out in Bangkok.

You also have Bangkok Marriott Hotel The Surawongse, a 32-story hotel offering deluxe guestrooms including presidential suites and extended stay apartments with a modern design concept. Its unique location on Surawongse Road—traditionally known as a ‘heritage destination’—is within a 15-minute walk to River City Bangkok, Warehouse 30 and ATT 19, as well as attractions and dining establishments such as Bangkokian Museum, Indian restaurant Al-Rahaman and rustic Thai eatery 100 Mahaseth. Always remember that you can take a fun and breezy five-minute tuk tuk ride to and from the hotel if you’re not a fan of walking.

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