Ponnapa is a Thai contemporary visual artist and landscape architect based in Massachusetts. Growing up in an extended family of artists and musicians in Thailand has a strong influence on her artistic creativity. In watching her mother diligently make drawing paper from mulberry paper pulp, silk cocoon, and tree bark, Ponnapa learned that the making of the essence of art emerges before the white paper and continues to evolve beyond artist’s hands. This idea inspired her to use the Earth as a canvas and pursued a study in landscape architecture. Ponnapa holds a master’s degree in landscape architecture with honors from the Rhode Island School of Design where she started using soil as her main drawing media.
As a landscape architect making drawings, site investigation and immersion plays an important role in Ponnapa’s work. She uses the painting process as a tool to experience, understand, and connect with her surrounding environment. Through her work, she aims to gain a better understanding of cultural displacement and isolation issues as an immigrant. Ponnapa is also a recipient of David Bethuel Jamieson Artist of Color Residency & Fellowship at C-Scape Dune Shack in Provincetown, Residence Lab’s Artist-in-Residence Program by ACDC and the Pao Arts Center in Boston, and Manoog Family Artist Residency program at the Plumbing Museum with four paintings in the museum’s permanent collection. Her work has also been exhibited, published, and collected throughout the US and in Asia. Ponnapa currently works at Sasaki and is a member at Kingston Gallery.
On View
MaeMural on view at Mae Asian Eatery, 781 Main Street in Cambridge. The restaurant opens on Tue-Sat 11-2.30 and 4.30-8.30pm.
Past Exhibitions
Butterfly EffectsMural on view at Mahaniyom, Thai tapas bar at 236 Washington Street in Brookline Village. The restaurant opens everyday from 11.30am-2pm and 4-9pm.
Where We BelongMural on view at 79 Essex Street in Boston Chinatown.
From Past to PresentFrom Past to Present is on view at 745 Atlantic Avenue in Boston.
You. Me. A Place To Be.You. Me. A Place To Be. is on view at Harvard Ed Portal on Western Avenue in Boston. The mural will be on view until March 2025
Ju Long Ju Long (Giant Dragon, Gathering Dragon)Ju Long Ju Long is on view at Antie Kay and Uncle Frank Chin Park in Boston Chinatown.
American FlagAmerican Flag is in Too Hot! exhibition at Kingston Gallery. The show juried by Jessica Roscio and runs from July 3-August 11 with and opening reception on July 5th, 5-8pm.
New Narratives: The Collective Imaginary Sampan is in New Narratives: The Collective Imaginary exhibition at the Pao Art Center in Boston. The show runs from May 23 - July 22, 2022 with an opening reception on May 26, 2022
Integrated Cycles: Artists Respond to Our Changing EarthIntegrated Cycles: Artists Respond to Our Changing Earth exhibition at Shaira Ali Gallery, the Arlington Center for the Arts. The show runs from March 3- June 9, 2022
A World of Color, Bursting Out With Spring ExhibitionSky #1 and Sky #4 are in A World of Color, Bursting Out With Spring Exhibition at Till Wave Gallery in Watertown from April 14-June 2, 2022
Newport Biennial 2022 In Between is in Newport Biennial 2022 exhibition at Newport Art Museum. The show runs from January 8 - May 29, 2022
The Flag Project 2022 "Only One Earth"Planet Earth is printed on eco-friendly flag and displayed at the Rockefeller Center in New York City from April 1-30, 2022
Boundaries/BordersPlanet Earth and Planet II are in Boundaries/Borders exhibition at Kingston Gallery. The show runs from March 2-27, 2022
Allston-Brighton's Winter MarketPonnapa has work listed in Allston-Brighton's Winter Market. Market date is from December 1 - January 15, 2022
REAL The Origin is in REAL exhibition at Arlington Center for the Arts. The show runs from October 21 - January 14, 2022
RE-EMERGENCEEye on the Ground is in RE-EMERGENCE exhibition at the Wave Gallery. The show runs from November 4 - January 8, 2022
The Soul of Forgotten ObjectsShovels, Nail#2 and Poison Ivy and Monarch are in the Soul of Forgotten Objects exhibition at Sedona Arts Center in Arizona. The exhibition runs from December 1-23, 2021
2021 Winter WorksAnattā is in 2021 Winter Works at Bromfield Gallery in SoWa. The exhibition runs from December 1-19, 2021
BLUE 2021Because It's There is in BLUE 2021 at Kathryn Schultz Gallery. The show runs from December 1-17, 2021
inPUBLIC FestivalSpace Between Us in inPUBLIC Festival from November 5-7, 2021
All About UsAll About Us on View at Monmouth Park, Brookline Art Center.
2021 Mary Schein Fall SalonIn Between is in 2021 Mary Schein Fall Salon at Cambridge Art Association online exhibition from September 8-28
Summer 2021 Small Works ExhibitGrand Father & Sun Rise and Licancabur From Tulor are in Summer 2021 Small Works Exhibit at Cambridge Art Association. The online exhibition runs from July 14th to August 29th, 2021.
Snail GameSnail Game installed at the Rose Kennedy Greenway in Boston this summer!
Chasing LightChasing Light Exhibition at Gallery 263. The online show runs until August 14th.
Space BetweenSpace Between exhibition at Kingston Gallery in Boston. The exhibition runs from June 30 - July 25, 2021.
UntitledCore Member Small Works at Fountain Street Gallery in SOWA. The show runs from June 30th to July 25th, 2021.
Creative People Leading Climate Change Creative People Leading Climate Change exhibition at Augusta Savage Gallery, UMass Amherst. The online show runs from April 16 - June 30, 2021.
Samantha สมถะ : Stillness in the ChaosSamantha exhibition at Center Gallery in Kingston Gallery. The exhibition runs from June 2-27, 2021.
HomeHome exhibition at Arc Gallery in San Francisco. The online show runs from May 15 - June 12.
Art Off The WallBoston From Cambridge is in Art Off The Wall event at the Brookline Art Center. The event is on May 15 with an online gallery open to public until May 15, 2021.
UpendedAnatta 1 and Anatta 2 are on view in Upended exhibition at Boston City Hall Gallery from April 1 - May 14.
2020My 77 Morning From Home and 33 Weeks at Home are featured in "2020" exhibition at Mary Cosgrove Dolphin Gallery at Worcester State University. The exhibition goes live on March 4.
PhantasmPhantasm exhibition at Fountain Street Gallery. The exhibition runs from March 31 -April 25, 2021.
Earth Month Exhibition : Change is in the AirPonnapa has 3 work in Earth Month Exhibition : Change is in the Air at the Umbrella Art Center in Concord. The exhibition runs from February 15 - April 25, 2021.
UpendedBecause It's There is featured in Upended exhibition at Piano Craft Gallery in Boston. The exhibition runs from March 5-28, 2021 with an opening reception on March 5 from 6-8pm.
LandscapesPlanet 1 is featured in Landscapes exhibition at Las Laguna Gallery in California. The exhibition runs from February 4-27, 2021 .
Allston-Brighton's Winter MarketPonnapa has work listed in Allston-Brighton's Winter Market. Market date is from November 13 through February 14, 2021.
CelebrationPonnapa has 3 work in Celebration exhibition at Gallery 40 in Poughkeepsie, NY. The exhibition runs from January 2 - Febraury 12, 2021. Visit virtual gallery here.
BLACK N'WHITEPonnapa has 3 work in BLACK N'WHITE exhibition at Wickford Art Association in Rhode Island. The exhibition runs from January 15 - February 7, 2021.
Small Works - Big TalentNail Print#1 is featured in Small Work - Big Talent exhibition at Las Laguna Gallery in California. The exhibition runs from January 7-30, 2021.
Art DashPonnapa has 3 work in Art Dash event at Beacon Gallery. The event is on Saturday December 19 from 6-9pm with previewing time from 12-6pm.
Winter WorksFull Moon is featured in Winter Works 2020 exhibition at Bromfield Gallery in Boston. The exhibition runs from December 4-20, 2020.
Unexpected RelationshipInternal Sala is featured in Unexpected Relationship online exhibition at Fountain Street Gallery.
Chemical ExchangePonnapa has 5 work in Chemical Exchange exhibition at Beacon Street Gallery in Boston. The show at the gallery runs from November 20 to December 18 with an online gallery here.
Speak UpATTA is featured in Speak Up exhibition at Piano Craft Gallery in Boston. The exhibition runs from November 6-29, 2020.
New Narratives: Reclaiming Asian Identity Through StorySampan is featured in New Narratives: Reclaiming Asian Identity Through Story, an online group exhibition by Unbound Visual Arts. The exhibition runs until October 31.
In TransitionIn Transition exhibition at SOWA Pop-up gallery, 460 Harrison Building C Unit 8C (Basement Level). The show runs from September 19-October 12 by appointment with a reception on First Friday October 2, 2020.
ROX/SE50 Shades of Blue is featured in ROX/SE exhibition at Piano Craft Gallery in Boston. The exhibition runs from September 4-27.
Small Stones Festival of the ArtsPonnapa Prakkamakul has 3 work in the Small Stones Festival of the Arts online exhibition with Nightscape included in a printed catalog. The exhibition starts on October 1 with an award ceremony on October 23rd from 7-8.30pm.
Repeat As Needed50 Shades of Blue is featured in Repeat As Needed exhibition at Kingston Gallery in Boston. The exhibition runs from August 5-30, 2020.
Sea Scape : C-Scape Dune Shack Experience in ProvincetownSea Scape : C-Scape Dune Shack Experience in Provincetown exhibition at JP Licks on Boylston Street. The exhibition runs from February 17- June 30, 2020
Beyond Planet EarthBeyond Planet Earth exhibition at Augusta Savage Gallery, UMass Amherst. The exhibition runs from April 6 to May 31, 2020.
ActivationUniverse Within is featured in Activation exhibition at the Brookline Art Center in Boston. The exhibition runs from March 13 - April 20, 2020.
Totems Birth is featured in Totem exhibition at Beacon Gallery in Boston. The exhibition runs from February 7 to March 15, 2020 with an opening reception on February 7 from 6-8.30pm.