Rirkrit Tiravanija

Rirkrit Tiravanija, a Thai artist and central figure in relational aesthetics, is known for his participatory works centering on social interaction. He grew up in Thailand, Ethiopia, and Canada and studied art at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Whitney Independent Study Program in New York, among others.
Tiravanija’s art shifts the focus from traditional objects to experiences. His best-known works include installations comprising spaces where visitors can cook, eat, or discuss things together, such as Untitled (Free) (1992), in which he prepared Thai food in a gallery and gave it away for free.
His work has been exhibited worldwide, including at the Venice Biennale, the Tate Modern in London, and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Tiravanija lives and works between Berlin, New York, and Chiang Mai, Thailand, and advocates for community, exchange, and the crossing of cultural boundaries through his art.

His work Untitled (THE STATE OF THINGS) (2013) is on view in the exhibition Paper, Rock Scissors - Materials and Tools of Art (2025).