MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art), in the north of Bangkok in Chatuchak district, is a private museum devoted to modern and contemporary Thai art. Founded by the businessman and collector Boonchai Bencharongkul and opened in 2012, it brings together on five levels works by the great names of Thai painting, including Thawan Duchanee, Chalermchai Kositpipat, Hem Vejakorn and Prateep Kochabua. The galleries are spacious, air-conditioned and rarely crowded: it makes a good outing for a hot or rainy afternoon. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Allow one to two hours for a visit.
Highlights
A five-storey museum
The grey granite building, with its windowless facade topped by the MOCA logo, was built to house its founder's personal collection. Each floor follows a theme: history and legends of Southeast Asia, imagination, the great Thai masters, then international art. Start from the top or the bottom, but follow the order of the floors to make sense of the route.
The ground floor and Silpa Bhirasri
At the entrance, a statue pays tribute to Professor Silpa Bhirasri, born Corrado Feroci, an Italian sculptor who settled in Siam in the 1920s and is regarded as the father of modern Thai art. The hall also displays the sculpture "Happiness" by Nonthivathn Chandhanaphalin. The museum shop and café are on this level.
Suvarnabhumi, on the 2nd floor
The permanent exhibition "Suvarnabhumi" (the "land of gold") tells the story of the heritage of Thailand and Southeast Asia. It features khon masks, from Thailand's masked dance drama, shadow puppets from several countries of the region and works inspired by the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics.
Imagination, on the 3rd floor
This floor is devoted to dreams and fantasy. The "Bloom Room" brings together nature-inspired works designed to convey positive energy. There is a large group of works by Sompong Adulyasaraphan and paintings by the surrealist painter Prateep Kochabua.
Thawan Duchanee and "The Three Kingdoms", on the 4th floor
The 4th floor is the heart of the museum: it shows the works of Thawan Duchanee, a major figure of Thai art, and a room dedicated to several National Artists, the official title given to Thailand's leading artists. Don't miss "The Three Kingdoms", a vast surrealist composition depicting heaven, the human world and hell, painted jointly by Sompop Butarad, Panya Vijinthanasarn and Prateep Kochabua.
International art, on the 5th floor
The top floor opens onto works and photographs by foreign artists. The Richard Green room, named after the London gallery they came from, displays Romantic paintings from the era of Queen Victoria.
Opening hours and tickets
Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm, closed on Mondays; the museum opens on most public holidays, but exceptional closures are announced on its website. The Tickets page of the official website gives 400 baht for an adult and 120 baht for a student with a student card (the FAQ on the same website still shows 300 baht for an adult). Free admission for children under 13, over-60s with ID, visitors with disabilities and monks. The ticket covers the permanent collections and exhibitions, but not special exhibitions or the auditorium. Payment by card, mobile payment or cash; tickets are also sold online.
Infos pratiques
Tips
Prices checked in October 2026; the adult price differs between pages of the official website, so plan on 400 baht. Bags larger than an A4 sheet (backpacks, camera bags) must be left at the baggage storage near the ticket desk. Photos without flash are allowed wherever no sign forbids them; selfie sticks and tripods are not allowed. Avoid beachwear, very short shorts and see-through clothing. The museum is far from the centre: combine it with [Chatuchak Market](/fr/attractions/marche-de-chatuchak) at the weekend, and for more indoor ideas, see our guide to [Bangkok on a rainy day](/fr/articles/bangkok-jour-de-pluie). For contemporary art closer to the centre, the [BACC](/fr/attractions/bacc-centre-art-bangkok) in Siam is free.
How to get there
499 Kamphaeng Phet 6 Road, Lat Yao, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900. The easiest way: SRT Red Line, Bang Khen station, exit 2, then about 200 m on foot. From BTS Mo Chit or MRT Chatuchak Park, the museum is just over 5 km to the north: take a taxi or a ride-hailing car. Buses 29, 69, 134, 187, 191, 504, 510 and 555. Free parking on site.
Opening hours
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