Charoon Boonsuan

1. 1938, Sing Buri, Thailand. Lives and works in Lamphun, Thailand.

Charoon Boonsuan was born in Sing Buri province. He completed his upper secondary education in 1954 at Singhawatthanapaha School (now Sing Buri School), then continued his studies at the School of Fine Arts (now the College of Fine Arts) from 1955 to 1957, which served as a preparatory institution for Silpakorn University. In 1958, he was admitted to the Faculty of Painting, Sculpture, and Graphic Arts at Silpakorn University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in 1963 and his master’s degree in 1980.

His years at Silpakorn University were formative. Boonsuan had the opportunity to study under Professor Silpa Bhirasri from his first to fifth year. As one of the most influential figures in Thai modern art, Professor Bhirasri deeply shaped Boonsuan’s thinking, his artistic approach, and his way of life—remaining a revered mentor throughout his career.

Boonsuan’s professional path spans both art and education. He began teaching in 1963 at the Northeastern Campus of the College of Technology and Vocational Education in Nakhon Ratchasima, remaining there until 1979. He later moved to Lamphun and taught at the Northern Campus in Chiang Mai from 1979 to 1981, followed by a position at Lamphun Technical College from 1982 to 1985. From 1986 to 1993, he served as a lecturer at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Chiang Mai University, before resigning to pursue life as a full-time independent artist—his lifelong vocation to this day.

Boonsuan has received numerous accolades in the field of visual arts. In the 1970s and 1980s, he was recognized multiple times at the National Art Exhibition, winning three Bronze Medals of Honor in painting in 1982, 1984, and 1985. He was also awarded prizes at the prestigious Bualuang Painting Exhibition, including a second prize (silver medal) and a third prize (bronze medal) in the contemporary Thai category, as well as first prizes in competitions supported by Kasikornbank.

Boonsuan received national recognition as a senior artist in the 2000s. In 2010, he received the Rajamangala Award for Cultural Excellence in Visual Arts from Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, followed by a Local Artist of Distinction Award from the Lamphun Provincial Administrative Organization in 2011.

Boonsuan’s works have been exhibited both in Thailand and internationally. His notable solo exhibitions include 60 Years of Color at the Palace of Art in Bangkok (1998), The Splendor of Nature at Chamchuri Art Gallery, Chulalongkorn University (2005), 80th Year Work & Life of Charoon Boonsuan at Temple House Lamphun (2018), and 100 Blossoms of Nature at Chiang Mai Art Museum (2019). Internationally, his work has appeared in A View from Thailand at the Pacific Asia Museum in California and in the ASEAN Arts Exhibition, featuring artists from Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, and the Philippines. His exhibitions have continued consistently over the decades.

Boonsuan’s artistic style has evolved. While he began with Realism as a student, he later explored Abstract painting during his early teaching years and experimented with Cubism. Eventually, he returned to a Realistic/Impressionistic approach during his tenure at Chiang Mai University, a style he has maintained ever since. Though many regard him as a realist, Boonsuan sees himself as a figurative abstract artist—one who uses natural forms and outlines as frameworks to express emotion through color. For him, “the joy of creating is the ultimate goal.”

Currently, Boonsuan continues to produce landscape works that celebrate the beauty of nature, particularly flowers, rendered with delicate use of color and composition. His works are held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA BANGKOK). ์Now Boonsuan remains devoted to both artmaking and mentoring the next generation. To him, art is a gift to society—an expression of beauty and joy. This ethos is embodied in Baan Bua Kaew Art House, which he established in 1989. The art house not only serves as a repository for his life’s work but also provides inspiration for students, art lovers, and visitors alike. Although currently open by appointment only, there are plans to formalize public visiting hours in the near future.