Chakrabhan Posayakrit, National Artist in Visual Arts (Painting), 2000

b. 1943, currently resides and works in Bangkok, Thailand.

Chakrapan Posayakrit was born in 1943 in Bangkok. He received his early education at Vajiravudh College and completed his bachelor’s degree in painting from the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture and Graphic Arts, Silpakorn University, in 1968. His artistic achievements have been recognized through several national honors, including the Companion of the Most Admirable Order of Direkgunabhorn in 2001 and the title of National Artist in Visual Arts (Painting) in 2000. Earlier distinctions include an honorary doctorate from Silpakorn University in 1994, the Knight Grand Cross of the Most Exalted Order of the White Elephant in 1992 and an honorary doctorate from Chulalongkorn University in 1989. His selection as one of the fifty two Master Craftsmen during the Bicentennial Celebration of the Rattanakosin Era in 1982 further affirms his significant role in preserving and advancing Thai traditional arts.

His work stands out both in national art competitions and in major public commissions that contribute to Thailand’s cultural heritage. Posayakrit participated sixteen times in the National Exhibition of Art, earning a Bronze Medal in 1965 followed by consecutive Silver Medals between 1966 and 1973. His major public works include the Manorah and Phra Lor paintings at Phuping Ratchaniwet Palace, mural paintings at Wat Tritossathep and Wat Khao Sukim, and sculptural works inspired by the tale Sang Thong at the King Rama II Memorial Park. These projects reflect his profound mastery of traditional Thai artistic forms and his sustained commitment to cultural preservation.

Posayakrit’s artistic style is characterized by his practice of painting directly without preliminary sketches, resulting in lines and colors that are steady, luminous and shaped by an idealized sense of beauty. His portraiture is known for radiant complexions and subtly expressive eyes, while his traditional paintings reinterpret characters from Thai literature through a contemporary imaginative lens. His expertise extends into the revival of Thai Hun Krabok puppetry, where he founded the Chakrabhand Puppet Troupe and created landmark productions such as Phra Aphai Mani (1975) and Sam Kok (1987).

In the latter phase of his creative journey, Posayakrit has focused on sustaining and extending Thai traditional arts through the Chakrabhand Posayakrit Foundation, which serves as a museum, workshop and learning space for younger artisans. The foundation is envisioned as a central institution dedicated to preserving his life’s work for future generations.