Brian Curtin is an Irish-born art critic and lecturer. From 2007-18 he worked as an independent curator of contemporary art and now works on commission. He holds a Ph.D. in studio art from the University of Bristol and has been based in Bangkok since 2000. Brian’s work explores dialogues between contemporary art, Queer theories and studies in visual and material cultures. His commentary, essays, interviews and reviews have been published in Art Journal, Artforum, Art Asia Pacific, Circa, Craft Research, Flash Art, Frieze, Journal of Curatorial Studies and Parachute, amongst others. Published profiles of artists include Alice Maher, Paul Pfeiffer, Araya Rasdjarmrearnsook, Collier Schorr, Jakkai Siributr, and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. His monograph Essential Desires: Contemporary Art in Thailand was published by Reaktion Books in 2021.

Brian’s research addresses hierarchies and antagonisms that limit critical approaches to modern and contemporary art; and published essays in this respect explore the art-historical marginalizing of ‘decoration’ and also problems of national identity as a frame for recent art. Brian has presented at conferences and symposia in Kuala Lumpur, Kyoto, London and Singapore. And has held writers’ residencies in Beijing and Kuala Lumpur.

Curated exhibitions include China, New York, Korea and the UK as well as regionally in Southeast Asia. He managed the experimental venue H Project Space in Bangkok from 2011 to 2018 which now functions under the mantle Brian Curtin Projects. Curatorial work has been been funded by the Arts Council England, Australia Council for the Arts, British Council Thailand, and Culture Ireland. Brian has been a nominator for the Prix Pictet award in photography, the Sovereign Art Prize, and collaborated with Saatchi Gallery London. He has lectured in art history, visual culture, and studio courses at the Faculty of Architecture of Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, since 2006. In 2018 Brian led Uncommon Pursuits: A Temporary School for Emergent Curators in Southeast Asia at Sàn Art, a non-profit in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and was selected as one of the curatorial team for the 2024 edition of Bangkok Art Biennale. A regular consultant and peer reviewer, commissions include Alphawood Foundation Chicago, The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, and Third Text.

Drawing by Top Changtrakul. Cover photograph from Press Launch of Bangkok Art Biennale 2024 during October 2023, Bangkok.