The museum is closed Thurs, Jan. 1, for New Year’s Day.
The museum is closed Thurs, Jan. 1, for New Year’s Day.
All News
Dec 8, 2025
San Francisco, CA — December 8, 2025 — The Asian Art Museum today formally transferred four ancient bronze sculptures to the government of Thailand, concluding a multi-year process of research, review, and collaboration among U.S. and Thai authorities. The ceremony, held at the museum, brought together the Ambassador of Thailand to the United States, H.E. Dr. Suriya Chindawongse; the Consul General of Thailand in Los Angeles, Mr. Tor Saralamba; and the Executive Director of the Office of National Museums of Thailand, Fine Arts Department, Ms. Nitaya Kanokmongkol, alongside representatives from the Thai American community and museum leadership. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie also attended and witnessed the ceremony, reflecting the city’s commitment to responsible stewardship of the collection.
The sculptures — long part of the museum’s holdings and most recently featured in the exhibition Moving Objects: Learning from Local and Global Communities — were determined through extensive research to have been illegally removed from Thailand in the 1960s and later acquired on the art market by the museum’s founding collector, Avery Brundage. A multi-agency investigation led by U.S. Homeland Security, paired with scholarship from Thai researchers and the Asian Art Museum’s curatorial team, confirmed that the works were linked to Douglas Latchford, a dealer later indicted for trafficking in Southeast Asian antiquities.
Following this confirmation, museum staff and the San Francisco City Attorney recommended cooperation with Thai authorities. The Asian Art Commission, the museum’s governing body, unanimously approved the return through a required two-stage voting process — first in September 2024, and again on April 22, 2025, after the mandated six-month review period.
“This return is the result of careful research, mutual respect, and a shared commitment to doing what is right,” said Soyoung Lee, The Barbara Bass Bakar Director and CEO of the Asian Art Museum. “These sculptures have been part of our history for nearly half a century, but their rightful place is in Thailand. It is an honor to be a part of their return home.”
Lee emphasized the collaborative spirit behind the resolution and optimism about future cultural exchange. “We deeply appreciate the partnership of the Thai government, the local Thai American community, and our colleagues at Homeland Security,” she said. “We look forward to continued collaboration with Thailand in sharing knowledge and celebrating the richness of Thai art and culture with audiences here and around the world.”
The Fine Arts Department of Thailand will now coordinate with Homeland Security Investigations and the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Los Angeles on final transport procedures.
About the Asian Art Museum
Located in the heart of San Francisco, the museum is home to one of the world’s finest collections of Asian and Asian American art, with more than 20,000 awe-inspiring works ranging from ancient jades and ceramics to contemporary video installations. Dynamic special exhibitions, cultural celebrations, and public programs for all ages provide rich art experiences that unlock the past and spark questions about the future.
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Picutured above: Dr. Soyoung Lee, The Barbara Bass Bakar Director and CEO of the Asian Art Museum; Nitaya Kanokmongkol, Executive Director of the Office of the National Museums of Thailand; Mayor Daniel Lurie; His Excellency Dr. Suriya Chindawongse, Ambassador of Thailand to the United States; Tor Saralamba, Thai Consul General in Los Angeles, with transfer documentation.
