In this biography
Quick facts
- Born
- 15 September 1892
- Died
- 14 May 1962
- Birthplace
- Florence, Italy
- Country
- Thailand
- Nationality
- Thai
- Known for
- Establishing modern art education in Thailand
- Birth name
- Corrado Feroci
- Moved to Siam
- 1923
- School founded
- School of Fine Arts, 1933
- University founded
- Silpakorn University, 1943
Why this life matters
Silpa trained generations of Thai artists and helped create the institutions through which modern art became a national profession and public practice.
Timeline
Key moments
Born in Florence
Born Corrado Feroci on 15 September.
Arrived in Siam
Joined the Fine Arts Department as a sculptor in government service.
Established the School of Fine Arts
Created a formal programme for training artists in Bangkok.
Silpakorn University founded
The school became Thailand’s first university dedicated to the fine arts.
Became a Thai citizen
Adopted the Thai name Silpa Bhirasri during the Second World War.
Started a national art exhibition
Helped establish a recurring platform for modern Thai artists.
Died in Bangkok
Died on 14 May after nearly four decades of teaching and public work.
From Florence to Bangkok
Corrado Feroci trained at the Royal Academy of Art in Florence and came to Siam in 1923 to work for the Fine Arts Department. He produced public sculpture and taught local students at a moment when the state was building new cultural institutions.
Teaching became his most consequential work. The School of Fine Arts, established in 1933, provided a regular studio curriculum and a professional path for artists.
Building Silpakorn University
In 1943 the school became Silpakorn University. It began with painting and sculpture before expanding, making art education part of Thailand’s university system.
Feroci became a Thai citizen and adopted the name Silpa Bhirasri in 1944. His position between Italian academic training and Thai institutions encouraged experimentation but also raises useful questions about how “modern” art was selected and authorised.
Teacher, curator and institutional legacy
Silpa helped organise the National Exhibition of Art and wrote about Thai traditions as well as contemporary practice. Students including major painters and sculptors carried his influence into public monuments, universities and independent work.
He is often called the father of modern art in Thailand. The title is best read as recognition of institution-building, not a claim that Thai modernism had a single author or that artists outside his school were unimportant.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions about Silpa Bhirasri
- Who was Silpa Bhirasri?
- Silpa Bhirasri was a sculptor, teacher and founder of Silpakorn University. Silpa trained generations of Thai artists and helped create the institutions through which modern art became a national profession and public practice.
- What is Silpa Bhirasri best known for?
- Silpa Bhirasri is best known for establishing modern art education in Thailand.
- When and where was Silpa Bhirasri born?
- Silpa Bhirasri was born on 15 September 1892 in Florence, Italy.
- When did Silpa Bhirasri die?
- Silpa Bhirasri died on 14 May 1962.
Sources and further reading
How this biography was checked
Core dates and offices are checked against the sources below. This profile was last reviewed on 8 September 2026.
