Bangkok’s best spots to live the art life

What is it? Warehouse 30 Art and Creative Space is an artistic community located in an urban-chic industrial venue next door to the Portuguese Embassy. You can’t miss it because it boasts a permanent mural by Vihls, the famous Portuguese street artist.

Why we love it: The cosy, historical neighborhood is the perfect weekend escape to satiate your visual senses and a great one-stop visit for friends new to the city. 333 Gallery and ATTA Gallery champion artists who reframe creativity in a fun way. Expect to take lots of photos for your vision board! Across the street, ATT19 Gallery features handicraft exhibitions as well as has a vintage shop and café that give off Soho vibes. Alexander Lamont’s interior design space is recognized by UNESCO for using Thai products and supporting  local artisans.

Time Out tip: Call ATTA Gallery before visiting to schedule a casual meet and greet with the owner. Atty is a treasure trove of knowledge and her passion is infectious. 

Opening hours: Warehouse 30 Art and Creative Space, Monday to Sunday 9am-6pm. 48 Charoen Krung 30, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500

What is it? River City Bangkok is an arts and culture complex popular with aspiring art students and tourists. Located on the Chao Phraya River, it offers the ideal gateway to roaming the city by boat, once you’ve had your fill of the sculpture and canvases indoors.

 Why we love it: Throughout its many incarnations, RCB has remained a hip and accessible artistic landmark. Many of its small pop-up galleries are for emerging artists. You’ll find international gallery Tang Contemporary Art here, while Art Focus is a bookstore filled with aficionados at the weekends. Trendy Gallery is perfect for IG enthusiasts looking for that perfect art selfie, while the RCB gallery hosts commercial exhibitions ranging from painting to photography. Hidden in the small alleyways outside the complex is a diverse collection of urban creativity that many street art experts say is amongst the best in the city to explore.

Time Out tip: The top two floors house antique shops – RCB also being a landmark for antiques collectors. When you’ve had your fill of colourful artwork, just meander upstairs to step back in time. Perhaps you’ll find a magic lamp hidden amongst the ancient relics. One of the outlets – Beyond the Masks – has been at RCB for over 30 years and its staff can make any treasure hunter happy.

Opening hours: River City Bangkok, Monday to Sunday 10am-8pm. 23 Soi Charoen Krung 24, Talat Noi, Bangkok 10100

What is it? Located in the heart of Old Bangkok, Matdot Art Center is a contemporary exhibition space and residency for international artists.  Whereas the area has an Old World European charm, Matdot is the revolutionary spirit shaking up the historic identity of the neighborhood.

Why we love it: The art center is the brainchild of Tawatchai Somkong, editor-in-chief of Fine Art Magazine. Visitors have the opportunity to meet the artists-in-residence in person, a refreshing first in Bangkok, and to unwind in a non-commercial setting with like-minded individuals. This is the place to go when you are looking for mental stimulation and discourse on art for art’s sake. No painting by numbers here!

Time Out tip: Join an opening night to immerse yourself in a colourful group of guests, or go solo to meet a resident artist who may invite you to their studio and chat about the creative life over a cup of coffee.

Opening hours: Matdot Art Center, Monday to Sunday 10am-6pm. 47 Lan Luang Rd, Wat Sommanat, Bangkok 10100

What is it? Over the Influence Bangkok is the new kid on the block in the city’s art scene. After opening locations in LA and HK, the international art gallery expanded to BKK where it continues to introduce world-famous artists in a classic white space setting. 

Why we love it: Think traditional highbrow painting with street art edge – that’s the personality of OTI BKK. The gallery is located in Chinatown, a hop-skip from Talat Noi, which is the place to be in Bangkok – locals love it, tourists rave about it, and its highly recommended restaurants require advance bookings for dinner. The building encompasses four floors,  the uppermost of which offers impressive views of the China Gate on Odeon Circle and unbeatable sunsets. This is the perfect place to bring a date because you can impress your paramour with artworks, then continue the evening at any of the chic eateries nearby.

Time Out tip: Time your gallery visits to arrive before sunset, then go and enjoy dinner at Charmkrung, which is a mere five minute walk away. On the way to the restaurant, you will pass the iconic Optimus Prime statue watching over Circle Talat Noi. What better way to bless your evening than with a nod from the all-knowing leader of the Autobots?

Opening hours: Over the Influence Bangkok, Wednesday to Sunday 11am-8pm. 81 Tri Mit Rd, Talat Noi, Bangkok 10100

What is it? The Museum of Contemporary Art is the first facility in Bangkok fully dedicated to celebrating Thailand’s art history. It includes a permanent collection of modern and contemporary artworks.

Why we love it: From Thawan Duchanee to Lampu Kansanoh, every Thai artist who has made an impact on the country’s art history can be found here. The term “contemporary” is applied loosely when put into a Western framework, but as this is Thailand and we love to reinterpret foreign words, MOCA is a love letter to significant local creatives and their visual expression. The inviting atmosphere of the building means you can easily spend the day walking through the exhibitions, while the serene pond outside the museum’s café is an ideal place to hang out afterwards.

Time Out tip: Be sure to bring home a souvenir from the giftshop. MOCA also exhibits international artists at the ART Space at the Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok. For the ultimate art adventure, spend a full day at MOCA and the next day at the ART Space, where you can cap a successful cultural experience with a cold beverage at the hotel bar!

Opening hours:  Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Tuesday to Sunday 10am-6pm. 499 Kamphaeng Phet 6 Rd, Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900

What is it? The Jim Thompson Art Centre is the contemporary love child of the James H.W. Thompson Foundation, which also runs The Jim Thompson House Museum, a cultural landmark dedicated to the silk industry pioneer whose disappearance in the late 60’s remains an unsolved mystery.

Why we love it: The Jim Thompson Art Centre was the carpark of The Jim Thompson House Museum until 2003 when design qua, the visionary architectural team, transformed the space into a stand-alone art center that nurtures conceptual artistic expression inspired by social content. In layman’s terms, this is the place to go when you want to take a wrecking ball to traditional modes of art. Video works and hanging installations can be found here. Don’t be surprised if a mango duct taped to the wall makes an appearance sometime in the future. The building design is grassroot industrial chic – think visually arresting terracotta bricks and contrasting cement walls.

Time Out tip: JTAC’s William Warren Library is the best kept secret in the city. Here you’ll find an excellent collection of art and antique books in English dedicated to the Southeast Asian region. To take out books you must register as a member, however visitors are encouraged to read, relax unbothered, and escape the city heat free of charge.

Opening hours: The Jim Thompson Art Center, Wednesday to Sunday 10am-6pm.  10/1 Kasem San 2 Alley, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330

What is it? N22 Bangkok is a community of five art galleries: Gallery VER, Studio Be Takerng Pattanopas, Cartel Art Space, Mads Box, and La Lanta Fine Art. They have carved a niche away from the commercial city center on Soi Narathiwas 22. 

Why we love it: N22 was originally conceived by Rirkrit Tirvanija, the Thai artist who made cooking Pad Thai into performance art. Gallery VER and La Lanta Fine Art are the older siblings of the group, both opening in 2006, albeit in different original locations. Studio Be Takerng Pattanopas is an open studio that shows the namesake’s works, while Cartel Art Space may be physically small but packs a mighty punch in terms of artistic integrity. This band of gallerists support each other, and visitors may feel like they walked into a block party at times.

Time Out tip: Each gallery has well-versed staff, so come prepared to have long discussions about the exhibitions and the state of world affairs. There is a cosy cafe  at the top of Soi Narathiwas 22 fittingly called Mille Journeys of Sweet and Happiness – isn’t that just the best way to end a day of art appreciation?

Opening hours: N22 Bangkok, Tuesday to Sunday 10am-7pm. 2198/10-11 Soi Narathiwas 22, Bangkok, 10120

What is it? Bangkok Kunsthalle is a public art space in Chinatown that champions experimental art forms. It is housed in the abandoned Thai Wattana Panich building, a Brutalist architect’s dream come true.

Why we love it: Taking a page from Marcel Duchamp’s playbook, Bangkok Kunsthalle is a game-changer in the city’s relationship with contemporary art. Artists are invited to make commissioned works that are sight specific for the exhibition space – Korakrit Arunanondchai is a frequent collaborator and Yoko Ono had an exhibition here. This institution pushes the boundaries of artistic understanding. Come with an open mind. 

Time Out tip: Call in advance to ask for a private tour of the exhibition space. If you have time, do plan an overnight trip to visit Khao Yai Art Forest, which is the sister project of the geniuses behind Bangkok Kunsthalle. The paired artistic immersion of the two is a once in a lifetime experience.

Opening hours: Bangkok Kunsthalle, Wednesday to Sunday 2pm-8pm. 599 Pantachit Alley, Pom Prap, Bangkok

What is it? Bangkok Art and Culture Centre fosters artistic learning and celebrates emerging and established Thai artists. It is located close to MBK and Siam Discovery Center, the area to visit when you want to discover the city’s next big fashion or food trend.

Why we love it: BACC originated when a group of artists petitioned the government for a public art centre. In recent years BACC has hosted the Bangkok Art Biennale, which attracts the Gen Z selfie crowd as well as international media keen to write about the city’s burgeoning art scene. This is a friendly art hub that welcomes families, individuals seeking the next big creative find, and aspiring artists looking for inspiration amongst the many exhibitions on display throughout the building.

Time Out tip: Come hungry, because BACC has restaurants aplenty. Mini Oriental Speedbar boasts a menu where everything is B65 tops.

Opening hours: Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, Tuesday to Sunday 10am-8pm. 939 Rama I Rd, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330

What is it? Rosewood Bangkok is unique in the city in that it has a permanent space celebrating local artists. Creatively named ‘The Art Gallery’, you’ll find it on the third floor of the hotel with direct access to the Ploenchit BTS station. It’s a perfect break in a hectic day in the city.

Why we love it: In Bangkok, where traffic jams create memes and ‘Thai time’ gets you a knowing look from locals, it is rare to find an artistic refuge amidst the downtown hustle. The Art Gallery at Rosewood Bangkok celebrates emerging artists in an easily accessible location. It’s hard to think of a better breather than a lunchtime escape surrounded by beautiful works of art.

Time Out tip: After visiting the Art Gallery at the hotel, go next door to Noble Play to see their art exhibitions. Conclude with lunch at Toby’s Bangkok and mingle with the artsy crowd that populate the restaurant. Now that’s a successful mid-day break.

Opening hours: Rosewood Bangkok Monday to Sunday 9am-9pm. Phloen Chit Rd, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330