Lyla Gallery

Lyla Gallery is a fairly new spot in Chiang Mai, and one worth seeing. Just a short walk from Chiang Mai’s historical Thapae Gate, the gallery is on second floor of a street-side building on Thapae Road. The location is prime, especially because it’s just a few blocks down from another great art space, Thapae East (number 3 on this list). The owner of the gallery is Lyla Phimanrat, a Thai curator with a knack for spotting great art. Originally from Bangkok, Lyla recently moved up to Chiang Mai to start this gallery. With Bangkok’s expensive rent and competitive art scene, choosing Chiang Mai is certainly reasonable.

Lyla Gallery features work by Thai artists, with a slight bias towards painting and photography. You can expect to see anything from colourful, abstract paintings to politically-rife work by some of the country’s most renowned artists currently practicing. Past shows have included work from famous Thai artists like Paphonsak La-or, Arjinjonathan Arjinkit, and Arin Rungjang. In addition to her job as curator, Lyla also contributes regularly to Chiang Mai Art Conversation. This local event is put on by local artists and arts professionals, aimed at encouraging discussion on contemporary art in the community. So don’t be shy—head upstairs to Lyla Gallery and strike up a conversation with one of the city’s friendliest curators.