Looking for recommendations for artist galleries, collectives, shops or festivals to visit in Bangkok and Chiang Mai during our visit in July. Particularly contemporary jewelry, paintings, and ceramics.

Thanks,
MizzEve

the thai craft organization holds monthly sales which include some jewelry.... check their website: www.thaicraft.org

At Chatuchak Weekend Market, there are some offering near the MRT station and up in JJ Plaza, the area just north of the main flea market.

For Chiangmai try around Nimmanhaemin road for the best galleries for both paintings and ceramics. For Bangkok the galleries are all spread around the city but the top end ones can be find in places like the Peninsula Plaza or perhaps in malls like the Paragon.

Most of the stuff around Chatuchak is mass produced decorative art. Probably not what you're looking for. CNN Go has a nice run-down of the current contemporary art shows now on around town:
http://www.cnngo.com/bangkok/play/bangkok-art-339320

The Manit Sriwanichpoom show would definitely be a "don't miss" exhibition. The shows at the gallery of the Jim Thompson house are always interesting as well.

so much art and jewelry in bkk seems very traditional, but surely there are pockets of modern designs and emerging artists around town....???

Most of the stuff, around most of Chatuchak is, indeed, mass produced decorative art. There are, however, some individual vendors, selling unique items.

Some of the vendors even have other outlets, at places such as Oriental Plaza. Of course, at Oriental Plaza, one will pay a premium.

A friend found a couple wonderful pieces at Chatuchak during his last visit. His business is ancient art. Unless you know the trade, I would stick to other items which simply please you, not necessarily "collectable" pieces.

Yep, I'm not interested in arts and crafts, especially mass produced. There is at least one fine arts school in Chiang Mai, so there must be an arts community. I did find:

http://matoomartspace.weebly.com/index.html

Thank you for the CNN Go link. Lots of great stuff going on in Bangkok.

Wherever there are humans, there is art

MissEve

I've wandered into a number of galleries in Bangkok with nice contemporary art. I know that River City has just been remodeled, but there used to be several galleries with good contemporary art there. I don't know if they are still there.

We purchased a painting, a Floating Market scene, at a gallery in OP Place behind the Oriental Hotel. While our painting was somewhat Impressionist in style, the gallery (whose name I cannot remember but I think is the only one there) had a wide selection.

Try some of the cafe bars on Pra Arthit Road. I've not been there in a year or so but it was (and probably still is)a popular haunt for young Thai artists.