Pinaree Sanpitak Biography

Widely known for her 'breast stupa' motif, Thai artist Pinaree Sanpitak is equally known for her fluid transitions between ideas and mediums, constantly building on prior works and concepts. The critically recognised conceptual artist is often categorised as a feminist artist who focuses on the female self and motherhood, but while much of Sanpitak's practice explores womanhood and the female body, her work is largely an exploration of the human form and humanity, seeing the body as a site of experience and impressions. Her works (sculpture, painting, drawing, installation, ceramic, printmaking, photography, performance) often delve into the affectual relationships between humans and draw on themes of fertility and comfort.

Read More

Sanpitak's breast stupa motif refers to the variety of Buddhist shrine known as a stupa, drawing comparisons between it and the breast. The motif is presented in various diverse configurations in her 2019 solo presentation Fragmented Bodies: The Personal and The Public at STPI in Singapore, being directly referenced in works such as the 'Breast Vessel' etching series and variously printed works such as Breast Talks 8 (2018), Breast Works III–2 (2018), and Breast Clouds I–4 (2018). Within the various media and styles of works, that the breast is depicted as a vessel able to be held remains constant throughout. Breast Talks 8 (2018) presents four iterations in various colours, forms, and textures that draw parallels and connections to other works, as well as emphasising the diverse arrangement within the work itself. The breast stupa here is in dialogue with its various forms both literally and metaphorically. There is a visceral element heightened by the various textures.

In her installation Anything Can Break (2011), Sanpitak creates delicate origami cubes and breast-like 'clouds' that hang from the ceiling, a dense layer that responds with musical sound to the movements of onlookers below. Debuting at the 18th Biennale of Sydney, this installation and sound art piece showcased sensory experience and challenged normative views of perception. While not classified directly as performance, Sanpitak has also engaged in community- and collaboration-focused projects such as 'Breast Stupa Cookery' (2005–ongoing), which consists of meals prepared by chefs using or inspired by breast stupa-shaped cooking moulds made from cast aluminium and glass, amongst other materials. The food that is created is then identified as the artwork, offering a much more collaborative and sensual experience of Sanpitak's work that is more in dialogue with the female body. Rather than detached in the manner of conventional sculpture, the act of consuming (as well as preparing) the food offers a sort of connectivity or point of relation.

Sanpitak received her initial tertiary education at the University of Tsukuba in Ibaraki, Japan (1986). In addition to being included in various international collections, her works have been shown at institutions such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Museum voor Moderne Kunst Arnhem, National Gallery Singapore, Singapore Art Museum, and The National Museum of Modern Art Tokyo. She has participated in various biennales including the Jakarta Biennale, the Busan Biennale, the Asia Pacific Triennial of Contemporary Art, and the Setouchi Triennale. She received the Silpathorn Award for visual arts from the Thai Ministry of Culture in 2007.

Perwana Nazif | Ocula | 2019

Pinaree Sanpitak
featured artworks

View 45 More
Bodies VI by Pinaree Sanpitak contemporary artwork painting, textile
Pinaree Sanpitak Bodies VI, 2023 Acrylic and mawata on canvas
200 x 120 cm
Galerie Lelong & Co. New York Request Price & Availability
Balancing Act 24 by Pinaree Sanpitak contemporary artwork works on paper, sculpture
Pinaree Sanpitak Balancing Act 24, 2024 24 Indian metal containers, mulberry paper, needle, 24 bases diameter 36 cm, motor Kinetic base by Studiomake
Galerie Lelong & Co. New York Request Price & Availability
Breast Rock by Pinaree Sanpitak contemporary artwork painting, textile
Pinaree Sanpitak Breast Rock, 2023 Acrylic, feathers, and fabric on canvas
200 x 150 cm
Galerie Lelong & Co. New York Request Price & Availability
Body Drops by Pinaree Sanpitak contemporary artwork painting, drawing
Pinaree Sanpitak Body Drops, 2023 Acrylic and pencil on canvas
200 x 200 cm
Galerie Lelong & Co. New York Request Price & Availability
vessel 1 by Pinaree Sanpitak contemporary artwork works on paper, drawing
Pinaree Sanpitak vessel 1, 2000 Charcoal, pencil, pastel on paper
150 x 200 cm
Ames Yavuz Request Price & Availability
vessel 4 by Pinaree Sanpitak contemporary artwork works on paper, drawing
Pinaree Sanpitak vessel 4, 2000 Charcoal, pencil, pastel on paper
150 x 200 cm
Ames Yavuz Request Price & Availability
The Vessel by Pinaree Sanpitak contemporary artwork sculpture
Pinaree Sanpitak The Vessel, 2024 Cast aluminium
78.5 x 200.8 x 91.5 cm
Sold
Ames Yavuz
The Vessel by Pinaree Sanpitak contemporary artwork sculpture
Pinaree Sanpitak The Vessel, 2024 Cast aluminium
78.5 x 200.8 x 91.5 cm
Ames Yavuz Request Price & Availability
View 45 More

Pinaree Sanpitak
recent exhibitions

View 2 More
View 2 More

Represented by these
Ocula Member Galleries

View 2 More

Pinaree Sanpitak in
Ocula Magazine

Read 5 More
Read 5 More
Learn more about the market for works
by Pinaree Sanpitak.
Enquire for a confidential discussion. Enquire Now
Simon Fisher, Ocula CEO
Ocula Advisor
Simon Fisher
Christoper Taylor, Ocula Advisor
Ocula Advisor
Christopher Taylor
Eva Fuchs, Ocula Advisor
Ocula Advisor
Eva Fuchs
Rory Mitchell, Ocula Advisor
Ocula Advisor
Rory Mitchell

Pinaree Sanpitak in
video & audio

Ocula discover the best in contemporary art icon.
Follow Pinaree Sanpitak
Stay ahead.
Receive updates on new artworks,
exhibitions and articles.
Your personal data is held in accordance with our privacy policy.
Follow
Do you have an Ocula account?
Ocula discover the best in contemporary art icon.
Get Access
Join Ocula to request price and availability of artworks, exhibition price lists and build a collection of favourite artists, galleries and artworks.
Do you have an Ocula account? Login
What best describes your interest in art?

Subscribe to our newsletter for upcoming exhibitions, available works, events and more.
By clicking Sign Up or Continue with Facebook or Google, you agree to Ocula's Terms & Conditions. Your personal data is held in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Thank you for joining us. Just one more thing...
Soon you will receive an email asking you to complete registration. If you do not receive it then you can check and edit the email address you entered.
Close
Thank you for joining us.
You can now request price and availability of artworks, exhibition price lists and build a collection of favourite artists, galleries and artworks.
Close
Welcome back to Ocula
Enter your email address and password below to login.
Reset Password
Enter your email address to receive a password reset link.
Reset Link Sent
We have sent you an email containing a link to reset your password. Simply click the link and enter your new password to complete this process.
Login