HISTORY

The Osathanugrah family is known not only for their success across the history of Thai business, but also as a lineage of artists, philanthropists, and collectors. Late Petch Osathanugrah was a renowned collector of international contemporary art and many masterpieces by Thai artists. An avid art collector and patron, he envisioned a cultural landmark: a space at the heart of the city that invites visitors to fully experience, appreciate, and explore contemporary art as a universal expression of humanity and spiritual essence that connects us all. We embrace his enduring legacy through the ongoing development of our museum.

Today, this love of art is stronger than ever as his son, Purat (Chang) Osathanugrah, makes the impossible possible—founding a global contemporary art museum, Dib Bangkok. A visionary young pioneer with a keen eye for contemporary art, Chang now brings this major art institution to global audiences. As both the museum founder and the president of Bangkok University, he positions Dib Bangkok as an anchoring point to his dynamic vision of holistic urban living: an unprecedented cultural hub that sparks creativity and fosters an engaging learning environment. His expansive mission includes cultivating new value among communities through creative expression beyond contemporary art, encompassing music and cross-disciplinary art forms.

Providing expert support to Chang is Miwako Tezuka, the inaugural director of Dib Bangkok. A seasoned specialist in contemporary Asian art, she first came to know Petch while working as a curator at New York’s Asia Society Museum on an exhibition featuring Montien Boonma’s work from his collection.
She continued to be an occasional sounding board for his collection building, and in the summer of 2023, Petch and Chang invited her to join the museum leadership team. Although Petch’s untimely passing shortly afterward was a significant loss for everyone involved, Tezuka shares Chang’s commitment to art and education. Inspired by his determination to drive the project forward, she relocated from New York to Bangkok to join the mission in 2024.

Since then, the Dib Bangkok team has been rapidly growing with dedicated professionals whose belief in the essential importance of art in our lives unites them to make the dream project come true.