“I have dedicated my life to this work, to be a treasure of the land...”
With these words, the vision of National Artist Chakrabhand Posayakrit extends far beyond the canvas. While his paintings are revered as the pinnacle of Thai contemporary art, the opening of the Chakrabhand Posayakrit Museum in Bangkok’s Sai Mai district reveals the true scale of his genius: a lifelong revival of the “living” art of Thai puppetry.
A gift to the next generation
Founded by the Chakrabhand Posayakrit Foundation, the museum fulfils a mission to preserve the cultural heritage of the Rattanakosin era. Driven by a desire to cultivate “artistic habits” among Thailand’s youth, the Master Artist has transformed his private collection into a public legacy.
Masterpieces unveiled
While the public has glimpsed his genius in past exhibitions, the museum houses era-defining masterpieces—many never before seen by the public or held in private collections.
Chakrabhand has kept many of his paintings for public display, explaining that he prefers the works to be national treasures for the generations to come rather than bought by private collectors.
The Ideal Beauty: From delicate paintings of women in literature to his world-renowned portraits, the gallery showcases his unmatched mastery of line and color.
Among more than 200 drawings and paintings on how, the highlights are his drawings from his days as a student at Vajiravudh College and from the time he spent as a lecturer at Silapakorn University.
Spiritual Grandeur: Visitors can explore the philosophy behind his massive mural projects, including the “heavenly atmospheres” designed for Wat Trithosathep Worawihan in Bangkok and Wat Khao Sukim, in Tha Mai District of Chanthaburi province.
The Living Art: The museum features one of the world's most complete and spectacular collections of more than 300 puppets, allowing the public to see the intricate details—jewelry, embroidery, and mechanism design—of each character from Sam Kok (the Thai adaptation of “The Romance of Three Kingdoms"), and Taleng Phai puppet performance.
The legacy of the troupe
This permanent home is the culmination of a journey that began several decades ago. The Chakrabhand Posayakrit Puppet Troupe made its historic debut in 1975 at the National Theatre with “Phra Aphai Mani: Escape from the Sea Ogress.”
Today, that legacy lives on in the museum’s advanced theater, a full-scale venue for Hun Krabok (Thai rod puppetry) equipped with modern light and sound systems.
It serves as a sanctuary for the diverse fields of craftsmanship required to bring these puppets to life.
If you go: visit the theatre
The official opening was held on 16 March 2026 and attended by the nation’s most prominent art patrons, including Chuan Leekpai, Boonchai Benjarongkul, and Sermkhun Kunawong and many other Thai leading artists.
The inaugural exhibition opens to the public on Sunday, 29 March 2026, from 10am to 4pm.
Advance booking is required due to the delicate nature of the collection. Please contact 02-392-7754 or 087-332-5467, or follow the Chakrabhand Posayakrit Foundation on Facebook for more details.
Photo courtesy of Chakrabhand Posayakrit Museum
