About

I am a Vietnamese-American artist, born and raised in Oklahoma.

I formally began studying art in high school and continued in the BFA program at The University of Miami. Due to traumatic events, I moved back to Oklahoma and stopped creating art. My life led to professions in anthropology, computer aided drafting and design, and engineering management. After fifteen years of non-practice, I returned to my first love. I currently reside in Norman and am pursuing a Master of Fine Arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Depending on the theme, I adopt various media to express specific ideas. Fiber art holds a weight of nostalgia for me; I remember seeing my older sisters cross stitch, quilt, and craft when I was small. As an adult, this memory of my sisters led me to seek out hand embroidery and sewing as forms of art therapy. Because of my history, using traditionally female affiliated work helps me emphasize the labor involved in production and the undervaluation of “women’s work”.

My family, and in particular my mother, are a central theme in my work. For most of my adult life I have been unpeeling layers of dysfunction and trauma to figure out who I am. Talking with my family can be emotionally difficult, but I have found using an anthropological lens has been key. My training in anthropology allows me to detach my personal feelings from the situation so that I can gather facts. In turn, this information allows me to see my family in a different light and begin to approach forgiveness. Whether or not I can truly resolve lingering issues is not my focus anymore. My goal is to live a life where I am okay with who I am, regardless of external acceptance. I use my work to exhibit this vulnerability and honesty.

To view my work in person, be sure to check out the “events” tab or follow me on Instagram or Facebook (links on the left).