Helping to make fine art more accessible to the masses, new gallery 44 Arts (44 Jakrapong Rd., Taladyod, Phranakorn, 02-629-5822, 09-607-3065. Open daily 10am-10pm. www.44artsthailand.com) offers a different approach to displaying art. Unlike a traditional gallery where a huge space displays entire collections from just a few artists, the space here isn’t intimidating. It’s smaller and cozier, showing a variety of Thai art from renowned masters—all of which are for sale. Making the setting even more comfortable, a small coffee counter called Coffee Code serves up coffee and sandwiches and a selection of wines is available. A small sitting area in the center with dark leather upholstered chairs and hanging lamps welcomes admirers of art to lounge and chat. If the weather’s good, an inviting balcony outside features a counter lined with seats and teak chairs and tables nestled among lush plants and an urn fountain.

As for where the art hangs, the space inside is divided up into mini-galleries that are rented out by other local galleries. Pieces vary from paintings, prints, and small sculptures to T-shirts and other clothes. Resembling little shops in a mall, the small galleries are grouped side-by-side with glass fronts, swinging doors, and their own signs. This easy-breezy way of viewing art works to the advantage of the artists, galleries, potential buyers and casual viewers as a variety of great works can be viewed intimately and informally under one roof. 44 Arts would like to do away with the old notion that you have to go to a sterile gallery or a museum to see art. Believing that art galleries shouldn’t just be concentrated in the Sukhumvit and Silom areas, they decided to place the gallery in the Khao San area to attract a variety of people and widen the sphere of art being shown throughout the city.