Jim Thompson House Museum

Jim Thompson House Museum

Thai-style teak house by American entrepreneur Jim Thompson offering guided tours in many languages. The Jim Thompson House Museum comprises six traditional Thai teak homes that once belonged to American entrepreneur Jim Thompson, who is credited with making Thai silk famous around the world. The museum showcases Thompson’s relics and unique art pieces that he collected from different parts of Thailand, and of course, Thai silk abounds. One of the most intriguing aspects of Thompson’s life is that he went missing in Malaysia back in 1967, never to be found again. Part of the museum explores the various theories about this unsolved mystery.

Located in the heart of Bangkok, The Jim Thompson Art Center is situated in the same compound as the unique and famous Jim Thompson House Museum. Serving as a haven for Bangkok’s local and international arts and cultural communities, the Center’s reputation as a place to mingle, interact and exchange dialogues is rapidly spreading. In conjunction with its exhibitions, the Center’s activities include parties, events, seminars, lectures and workshops.

The Jim Thompson Art Center is operated under The James H.W. Thompson Foundation, named for the American who assembled a Thai and Southeast Asian art collection in his traditional teak home. The mission of the Art Center is to nurture artistic activities and create public awareness of both contemporary and traditional arts within today’s context. Among its many activities, the Art Center organizes exhibitions; conducts educational and outreach programs; produces publications; and networks and collaborates with local and international cultural institutions. Previous exhibitions included Pinaree Sanpitak, Arahmaiani, Christian Lacroix, Interweaving cultures, Metissages, a crossbreeding of contemporary art and textiles. Traditional exhibitions focused on Southeast Asian textiles including ikats, costumes and maps painted on cloth.

Other facilities included the William Warren Library, Two Artists-in-Residency Rooms, Thai Textiles Society Office, and workspace for Conservators without Borders (Conservateurs sans frontiers).