Chiang Mai, Thailand

MAIIAM Contemporary Art Museum

MAIIAM opened in 2016 near Chiang Mai, a privately founded museum created by a family of collectors to house and share their holdings of contemporary Thai art. Its exterior is clad in shimmering mirrored mosaic, a nod to the decorative traditions of Thai temples. The museum focuses on contemporary art from Thailand and the surrounding region, presenting exhibitions and commissions and supporting the area's artist community. Chiang Mai has long been one of the most important centers of contemporary practice in Thailand. MAIIAM's relevance lies in giving northern Thailand's vibrant art scene a serious institutional home, broadening the contemporary art map of Southeast Asia beyond the region's capital cities.