Rirkrit Tiravanija's Essential Works: From Pad Thai to Political Pavilions
Rirkrit Tiravanija, a leading figure in relational aesthetics, was born in 1961 in Buenos Aires to a Thai diplomat. He rose to prominence with his work 'untitled 1990 (pad thai)' showcased at Paula Allen Gallery in New York. His significant pieces include 'untitled 1992 (free/still)' at 303 Gallery, 'untitled 1996 (tomorrow is another day)' at Kölnischer Kunstverein, and 'untitled 1998 (the land)' located in Sanpatong, Thailand. In 2004, he received the Hugo Boss Prize and was recognized as a medalist in the 2026 Art Basel Awards. His exhibition 'The House That Jack Built' is on display at Pirelli HangarBicocca in Milan until July 26. Additionally, he will feature a tent-like installation at the Qatari pavilion during the 2026 Venice Biennale. Other notable works include 'Untitled 2005' at the Guggenheim and 'Untitled 2015 (14,086)' at the Venice Biennale.
Key facts
- Rirkrit Tiravanija was born in 1961 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- His first solo exhibition 'untitled 1990 (pad thai)' was at Paula Allen Gallery, New York.
- He is a key figure in relational aesthetics, a term coined by Nicolas Bourriaud.
- He won the Hugo Boss Prize in 2004 and was a 2026 Art Basel Awards medalist.
- His retrospective 'The House That Jack Built' is at Pirelli HangarBicocca, Milan, until July 26, 2026.
- He will present a tent-like structure at the Qatari pavilion for the 2026 Venice Biennale.
- He cofounded Gallery VER in Bangkok in 2006.
- His work 'untitled 1992 (free/still)' is in MoMA's collection.
Entities
Artists
- Rirkrit Tiravanija
- Kamin Lertchaiprasert
- Sophia Al-Maria
- Tarek Atoui
- Alia Farid
- Fadi Kattan
- Nicolas Bourriaud
- Rudolf M. Schindler
- Marcel Duchamp
- Rainer Werner Fassbinder
- Fischli and Weiss
- Victor Grippo
- Philippe Parreno
- Tobias Rehberger
- Superflex
- Atelier Van Lieshout
Institutions
- Paula Allen Gallery
- 303 Gallery
- Kölnischer Kunstverein
- Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
- Centre Pompidou
- Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
- Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
- Gavin Brown's enterprise
- Remai Modern
- Tang Contemporary Art
- Museum of Islamic Art (Doha)
- Pirelli HangarBicocca
- Gallery VER
- David Zwirner
- Galerie Chantal Crousel
- Art Basel
- Venice Biennale
- Qatar Museums Authority
- Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
- ISCOS
- Ontario College of Art and Design
- School of the Art Institute of Chicago
- Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Ministry of Culture (Thailand)
- Hugo Boss
- ArtAsiaPacific
Locations
- Buenos Aires
- Argentina
- Thailand
- Ethiopia
- Canada
- New York
- United States
- Berlin
- Germany
- Chiangmai
- Bangkok
- Sanpatong
- Cologne
- Milan
- Paris
- Beijing
- Shanghai
- Hong Kong
- Doha
- Qatar
- Washington, DC
- Chicago
- Saskatoon
- West Hollywood
- Italy