The prestigious Italthai Portrait Prize, Thailand's national portraiture competition, is set to return in 2024, bringing together a showcase of exceptional artistic talent and innovation in portraiture with a total prize of 900,000 THB . Renowned as a compelling platform for artists exploring the boundaries of portrait art, this competition enters its fourth consecutive year. In 2024, the collaboration between Italthai Group, the principal sponsor and River City Bangkok, the host, continues and underscores a shared commitment to supporting Thai arts.
The Italthai Portrait Prize invites artists across the country to tell the story of life in Thailand in 2024. Remembering that portraits must be created from a live sitting, we encourage artists to reach beyond their immediate circle of family and friends and paint the portraits of people who have influenced and left a mark on life in Thailand in some way. Winners will not only receive substantial cash prizes but will also gain valuable exposure and recognition in the art world, elevating their profiles to new heights. The finalists will have their entry included in the Italthai Portrait Prize Exhibition 2024, with a chance to win the Portrait Prize, including a cash prize of 500,000 THB. Additionally, there is a Packing Room Prize of 200,000 THB, a Youth Prize of 100,000 THB, and the People's Choice Prize of 100,000 THB for the portrait that receives the most votes from the public.
The judging panel for the Italthai Portrait Prize competition consisted of seven opinion leaders from the business, public and private sectors. This year, we proudly welcome two esteemed individuals to our judging panel: Ms. Adulaya Hoontrakul, Director of the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC), and Mr. Voranai Vanijaka, journalist & college lecturer. Adulaya's role as BACC Director enhances our panel's expertise in selecting and nurturing artistic talent, given her keen eye for emerging artists. Voranai, a seasoned journalist and college lecturer, contributes a unique perspective that bridges journalism and academia. Together, they reinforce our commitment to excellence and the nurturing of the next generation of artistic brilliance.
The jury of the Italthai Portrait Prize 2024 competition consists of seven opinion leaders from the business and private sectors as follows:
- Mr. Yuthachai Charanachitta, Group CEO of Italthai Group
- Mrs. Pranapda Chirathivat, Founder of Dragonfly360 and President of Siam Music Yamaha Co., Ltd.
- M.L. Kathathong Thongyai, Assistant Director – General of Department of International Trade Promotion, Ministry of Commerce
- Mr. Tom Van Blarcom, Managing Director of Total Quality PR (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
- Ms. Naphalai Areesorn, Editorial Consultant, Koktail and Thailand’s Favorite Restaurants
- Ms. Adulaya Hoontrakul, Director of the Bangkok Art & Culture Centre (BACC)
- Mr. Voranai Vanijaka, Journalist & College Lecturer
We are very honoured to have our two new jury members, Ms. Adulaya and Mr. Voranai. As a Director of BACC, Ms. Adulaya is excited and honoured to be part of the Portrait Prize as a new jury member. “Whilst portraiture highlights the pinnacle of artistic skill, I also believe that portraits can
carry many features from our cultural environment where it is a screen upon which we can project our anxieties and desires. Making portraiture one of the most impactful kinds of art there is,” says Mr. Voranai. “Thailand is a melting pot, the country wears many faces. Some faces are often highlighted. Some are often hidden. I’m hoping this year we will see submissions that illustrate the diverse faces that truly represent the country we live in.”
Speaking about this year’s Portrait Prize, Yuthachai Charanachitta, Group CEO, Italthai Group, said: “It gives me great pleasure to support the Italthai Portrait Prize, which strives to promote diversity, encourage creativity, and provide a forum for amateur and professional artists to express their unique abilities, where each stroke of the brush tells a narrative and each colour on the palette reflects a different aspect of our Thai society.”
“By continuing to support the Italthai Portrait Prize, we hope to build a canvas that portrays the vast tapestry of human and societal experiences. We believe in the power of embracing diversity and valuing various perspectives. And we hope that this competition will act as a catalyst for the growth of Thailand's artistic industry and a stage for rising talent to shine.”
Linda Cheng, Managing Director of River City Bangkok, added: “We want to see portraits of people who are making a difference to society, people in the limelight but also people quietly doing good things. In short, share their narrative on life in Thailand.”
Artists, both emerging and established, are invited to submit their finest portrait artworks for consideration in the Italthai Portrait Prize 2024. Submissions open on March 1, 2024 and close on June 30, 2024. For guidelines and entry details, please visit https://portraitprizethailand.com/
