Portrait of Brian Curtin, 2021, by Be Takerng Pattanopas

Brian Curtin is an Irish-born art writer, lecturer, and curator of contemporary art. He has been based in Bangkok since 2000 where he lectures in the Department of Communication Design at Chulalongkorn University.

Brian’s work explores dialogues between contemporary art, Queer theories and studies in visual and material cultures. His commentary, essays, interviews and reviews have been published in Art Journal, Artforum, Art Asia Pacific, Circa, Craft Research, Flash Art, Frieze, Journal of Curatorial Studies and Parachute, amongst others. Brian’s monograph Essential Desires: Contemporary Art in Thailand will be published by Reaktion Books in June 2021.

Research work addresses challenges in thinking through hierarchies and antagonisms that limit critical approaches to modern and contemporary art; and published essays in this respect explore the art-historical marginalizing of ‘decoration’ and also problems of national identity as a frame for recent art. Brian has presented at conferences and symposia in Kuala Lumpur, Kyoto, London and Singapore. And has held writer’s residencies in Beijing and Kuala Lumpur.

Seminar with artist Lim Sokchanlina at Toot Yung Gallery Bangok 2014

Essential Desires Publication in June 2021