Thu Nguyen
Thu Nguyen

About

Thu Nguyen is an American realist with a modernist vision. Her paintings are well within the tradition of American realism as defined by artists such as Thomas Eakins and Andrew Wyeth. Like these artists, Nguyen looks at America’s heart—its land and its people—and describes the beauty she finds in everyday life. Her paintings celebrate the underlying epic nature of the commonplace and the personal significance of the extraordinary.
Thu was educated at the California State Long Beach University, where realist principles must be grasped before modernist ventures are encouraged. She pushes the boundaries of the realist tradition with her multilayered imagery. Life, death, passage, memory, and confrontation coexist easily in her world. Thu and her children are the cast of characters that appear in her dreamlike narrative works. Although the scenes are set around her mundane daily activities in her island home in Hawaii, or the surroundings of her studio and residence in the U S mainland, they represent a deeper, mythical concept of the archetypal, universal home.


Je suis né à Saigon, Vietnam. Etant très timide, j'ai passé beaucoup de mon enfance là-haut la confection de courtepointes, des vêtements de poupée, et la peinture, au lieu de jouer avec d'autres enfants. Ma peinture a gagné Best of Show au prix d'exposition A 1974 enfants à Saigon parrainé par l'UNICEF. En 1975, ma famille a été divisée. J'ai fini à Hong Kong pendant un an avant d'immigrer aux États-Unis comme un orphelin. Après un hiver très neigeux et froid en Pennsylvanie, je suis venu à Los Angeles (où j'ai eu un passage à Hollywood - J'ai obtenu un rôle dans «Ciel et la Terre» d'Oliver Stone et a suivi avec un rôle prépondérant dans Elizabeth Hong Yang 'Touch Dans' en Chine, tout en travaillant comme mannequin pour 4 ans). Depuis lors, j'ai vécu, travaillé, et exposé mon travail dans de nombreuses régions des États-Unis

Je peins le paysage, paysage végétal, et les chiffres - surtout de pétrole sur le panneau. Objet n'est pas vraiment important pour moi. Je peux trouver l'excitation visuelle tout autour de moi ... inspirations sont inépuisables. J'aime peindre car cela me donne beaucoup de plaisir. Je me perds dans le temps et le jour de soucis quotidiens simplement disparaître ... et quand j'ai terminé une peinture je me sens comme une partie de moi, il sera toujours quand je suis allé.

J'ai reçu mon diplôme de peinture de Cal State University, Long Beach. Plus récemment, j'ai participé à un atelier avec Bo Bartlett et Nelson Shanks. Je suis aussi un membre de peintres à l'huile de l'Amérique.

J'ai reçu des subventions des Pollock-Krasner Foundation deux fois, et trois fois de la Fondation Elizabeth Greenshields. Mon travail est représenté dans de nombreuses collections publiques et privées aux Etats-Unis, Canada, Mexique et en Europe.

Additional links:

To celebrate the new year, I' m giving 30% discount on the sale of all my fine art prints, postcarts, posters, prints on canvas on Fine arts America from January 1, 2011 thru January 31, 2011, the discount code to use: XABFJV

http://thu-nguyen.artistwebsites.com/index.html


please join me at the facebook
http://www.facebook.com/ThuNguyenPaintings

Pollock-Krasner Foundation
http://www.pkf-imagecollection.org/html/artistresults.asp?artist=1611&testing=true


http://www.youtube.com/ThuNguyenPaintings

http://artid.com/members/thunguyen

http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolio/t/trang/
The first time I come upon the smooth and fine brushwork paintings by the celebrated fine art painter Thu Nguyen, I was immediately drawn in by an added sense of calm, quiet and silence. Gazing on her paintings was as if opening worlds where internalized yin in vulnerable beauty appeared fused into the outward grandeur and strength of yang without any loss of clarity through compromise. With the further study of each surface that gently warms, her paintings were places where sense and realization were slowly uncovered and mirrored back through a process of gradually peeled layers of seeing.

Paintings by Thu Nguyen, who reports she is shy, are evocative of vulnerability; however, that is not the complete view. Nguyen’s works exhibit great strength and poise that reflect aspects of her life journey from a child orphaned in south east Asia before later emigrating to America by “one very snowy and cold winter in Pennsylvania,” and a film stint before a later lead role in Elizabeth Hong Yang's 'Touch Within' in China while working as a model. Nguyen knows the power, cadence and composition of beauty that is clearly present in all her works.


In the winter landscape, where a still slate grey sky quietly presses over seemingly vulnerable thinly-coated snow-white roofs, roofs with the hue and opulence of delicate semi-transparent high-fire porcelain. Nguyen updates idyllic winter sentiments and brings nostalgia forward by capturing suburbia in its comfortably ordinary and expected repetitions. She shows us not a sleigh, but a sole white pick up truck parallel parked among analogous housing that is connected, bridged, by patterned tire trails pressed into thin light snow that smoothly ess between tidy curbs dotted with harmonized, snow dappled, street side, flora.


Artistically talented since childhood, a graduate of Cal State University Long Beach, and a member of Oil Painters of America, Nguyen states of her work:

“I paint landscape, plantscape, and figures - mostly oil on panel. I love painting because it gives me great enjoyment. I lose myself in time and the day to day worries just vanish...and when I have completed a painting I feel like a part of me will remain when I am gone.”

Nguyen studied with contemporary masters such as Nelson Shanks and Bo Bartlett. She has twice received grants from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, and three times received grants from the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation. Her work is represented in many public and private collections, coast to coast.


Senior Editor
JL Daniels Art and Living



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Location
Mukilteo, WA, United States
Website
http://www.thunguyenpaintings.com
http://thu-nguyen.artistwebsites.com/index.html
Work
full-time artist
Education
Thu Nguyen received her painting degree from Cal State University, Long Beach. She is the two times recipient of the Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant and three times recipient of the Elizabeth Greenshield Foundation grant. Her work is in the Smithsonian collection in Washington, D.C., the San Jose Museum of Art in San Jose, California, as well as many other public and private collections. Read More

Portfolio

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A portfolio is a group of works created by you, the artist, which feature at the top of your profile.

Thu Nguyen
  $2,500 $20
Thu Nguyen
  $1,500 $20
Thu Nguyen
  $2,300 $20
Thu Nguyen
  $3,600 $20
Thu Nguyen
  $1,500 $20
Thu Nguyen
  $3,500 $20
Thu Nguyen
Thu Nguyen
Thu Nguyen
Thu Nguyen
Thu Nguyen
Thu Nguyen
Thu Nguyen

Events & Exhibitions

Exhibitions

GRANTS:
Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation, Montreal, Canada
Pollock-Krasner Foundation, New York, New York
http://www.pkf-imagecollection.org/html/artistresults.asp?artist=1611&testing=true

EDUCATION:
B.F.A. in paintings, California State University, Long Beach, CA 1993
A. A. in paintings, Los Angeles Valley College, Van Nuys, CA 1990
member of " Oil Painters Of America "

EXHIBITIONS:
2012
“New Paintings” - Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, WA Solo show
The sixth venue for Women-to-Watch 2011 Exhibition is: Butler Institute , Little Rock, AR
2011
“ Music” - a group show at Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle
“18th Annual Juried Art Show “ - Schack Art Center, Everett, WA Honorable Mention
Oil Painters of America’s Online Showcase Summer 2011
Kent Summer Art Exhibit & Gala, Centennial Center Gallery, Kent, WA
"Women-to-Watch 2011 - a traveling exhibition throughout the State of Arkansas, sponsored by National
Museum of Women in the Arts - Arkansas Committee
The first venue for Women-to-Watch 2011 Exhibition is: The Arts and Science Center of Southeast Arkansas, Pine Bluff, AR
The second venue for Women-to-Watch 2011 Exhibition is : Bentonville, AR
The third venue for Women-to-Watch 2011 Exhibition is: The Fort Smith Regional Art Museum,
Fort Smith, AR
The fourth venue for Women-to-Watch 2011 Exhibition is: Governor’s Mansion, Little Rock, AR
The fifth venue for Women-to-Watch 2011 Exhibition is: Jonesboro Public Library, Jonesboro, AR
2010
"Burien Arts First Annual Juried Exhibition" - Burien Community Center, Burien, WA Juried group show
"Barns, Boats and Bridges" - University House Issaquah, Issaquah, WA (Invitational Group show)
"Go Figure - a national figurative exhibit - Santa Cruz Art League, Santa Cruz, CA (juried group show - juror: George Rivera - Executive Director of the Triton Museum)
"It's not easy being green" - Lynnwood Library Gallery, Lynnwood WA (juried group show)
Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, WA (group show)
Taylor's Contemporanea, Hot Springs, AR (group show)
"Kenmore Art Show" - Northlake Lutheran Church, Kenmore, WA (juried group show)
"Art of the Garden" - Arts Council of Snohomish County Gallery, Everett, WA (invitational group show )
"The art of Asia" - Arts Council of Snohomish County Gallery, Everett, WA (invitational group show )
"UNCLAD 2010 - the fine art of the figure" - Gallery by the bay, Stanwood, Washington. ( Juried group show)
2009
Grand Prairie Festival of Arts, Stuttgart Junior Highschool, Stuttgart, AR (group show)
Taylor's Contemporanea, Hot Springs, AR (group show)
Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, WA (group show)
"Best of America" - a traveling show : Ella Caruthers Dunnegan Gallery, Bolivar, Missouri, KATY Depot Historic Site, Sedalia, Missouri, and Stone Crest Mall Gallery, Osage Beach, Missouri
"Bold Expressions" - Sacramento Fine Arts Center, Sacramento, California. (Juried group show)
"Americas 2009" - Minot State University, Northwest Art Center, Minot, North Dakota(juried group show) Merit Award
"2009 Annual Juried Art Competion" South Artkansas Arts Center, El Dorado, Arkansas(juried group show)
"The Arts Scene in Arkansas Today - 4th annual Arts in the Air Professional Art Exhibit and Sale" - Winthrop Rockefeller Institute, Morrilton, Arkansas. (invitational group show). Merit Award
"Southworks - Juried Art Exhibition" - Watkinsville, Georgia (Juried group show)
"Regional Juried Art Exhibition" - MSC Forsyth Center Galleries, Memorial Student Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas (Juried group show)
2008
Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, WA (group show)
Taylor's Contemporanea, Hot Springs, AR (group show)
"Bold Expressions" - Sacramento Fine Arts Center, Sacramento, California. Honorable Mention Award (Juried group show)
" Art on the corner " - Hot Springs Fine Arts Center, Hot Springs, Arkansas. Honorable Mention Award (Juried group show)
"Northern Disclosure" an exhibit from the permanent art collections - University of Alaska Museum of the North, Fairbanks, Alaska
"Plantscape" - Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, WA (solo show)
" 2008 Annual Juried Art Competition" - South Arkansas Arts Center, El Dorado, Arkansas
"UNCLAD 2008 - the fine art of the figure" - Floyd Norgaard Cultural Center, Stanwood, Washington. ( Juried group show)
"National Art Premiere 2008" - Elmhurst Art Museum, Elmhurst, IL (juried group show)Award of Merit.
"Opposites Attract" - San Jacinto College, Houston, Texas. Juried by William Stover - Curator of Contemporary Arts at the Museum of Fine Arts,
Boston, MA (juried group show)
2007
Taylor's Contemporanea, Hot Springs, AR (feature show)
"13th Annual Fall Regional Art Exhibition" - Arts Center of the Ozarks, Springdale, Arkansas. (juried group show)
"Water Lilies" - Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, WA(solo show)
"Reflections"- Osterville Fine Art, Osterville, MA (group show)
"Best of America" - a traveling show : Ella Carothers Dunnegan Gallery, Bolivar Missouri, KATY Depot Historic Site, Sedalia,
and Thompson Hall of Harper Chapel Methodist Church, Osage Beach Missouri. Award of Merit (juried group show-juror Mr.
M. Stephen Doherty - Editor-in-Chief of American Artist Magazine)
"Art Happens Everywhere" , Women Painters of Washington, Washington State Convention & Trade Center, Seattle, WA
(juried group show)
"Americas 2000 ", Northwest Art Center, Minot State University, Minot, Nort Dakota (juried)
Unclad 2007, figurative group show in Stanwood, WA and Portland, OR (juried)
2006
Kent Cornucopia Days Juried Fine Art Exhibition, Green River Community College @ Kent Station, Kent, WA
"Architectural Art" - Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, WA (group show)
"Waterbeings" - Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, WA(solo show)
2005
"Boats" - Rouge Blanc Gallery, Newberg, Oregon (group show)
16th Annual Canterbury Faire's Juried Fine Art Exhibit - Main Show, Kent, Washington (Purchased Award)
"Expression West 2005" - Coos Art Museum, Coos Bay, Oregon
Tacoma Tallships Art show - Washington State History Museum, Tacoma, WA (juried group show - honorable mention)
"Beauty Revisited"- Mt. Scott Art Center, Portland, Oregon (juried group show)
"Beyond Borders: A celebration of our Ethnic Diversity" - Arts Council of Snohomish County Gallery, Everett, WA (Group
show)
"Harmonious Navigation" - Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, WA (group show)
2004
"On the waterfront" - Marghitta Feldman Gallery, Portland, Oregon (solo show)
" Urban Rivers" - Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, WA (solo show)
"Town & Country" - Jasper Arts Center, Jasper, Indiana (4 person show) Honorarium Paid
2003
17th Annual Canterbury Faire's Juried Fine Art Exhibit - Main Show, Kent, Washington
Paintings by Thu Nguyen - DNDA Gallery, West Seattle, Washington (solo show)
Kent Arts Commission Gallery, Kent, Washington (solo show)
LGBT Gallery, Seattle, WA (2 person show)
Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas, Honorarium Paid (solo show)
East meets West - Lynnwood Library Gallery, Lynnwood, WA. Sponsored by Lynnwood Arts Commission ( solo show )
Along the Oregon Trail - National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center, Baker City, Oregon, (group show - Honorarium Paid)
2002
William Havu Gallery, Denver, CO (group show)
"Taken from the sea " - Huntington Beach Art Center, Huntington Beach, California.(goup show - Honorarium Paid )
Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL. Honorarium Paid (solo)
Pima Community College, Tucson,Arizona. Honorarium Paid (solo)
Olive Hyde Gallery, Fremont, California (solo)
"Simple honesty" - Frances Anderson Center, Edmonds, WA. Sponsored by Edmonds Arts Commission (solo)
"Painting from the heart by Thu Nguyen "- Bellevue City Hall, Bellevue, WA. Sponsored by the City of Bellevue (solo)
Microsoft, Issaquah, WA (as part of their celebration of Women's History Month) (solo)
2001
Sonia Zaks Gallery, Chicago, IL (solo show)
" Red Lotus" - City Gallery at Chastain, Atlanta, Georgia. Catalog. (Group show - Honorarium Paid )
California State University, Long Beach, CA (solo)
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), Philadelphia, PA
2000
Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver, Canada (solo show)
Precious Metal Gallery, Boulder, CO (solo)
Women of the world - White Columns, New York City (USA Traveling Exhibitions)
1999
Sonia Zaks Gallery, Chicago, IL(solo show)
SITE Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (solo)
Williams Center for the Arts, Lafayette College, Easton, PA. Honorarium paid. Catalog.
Into the 21st Century: Selections from the Permanent Collection - San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA. Catalog
Artcore Gallery, Toronto, Canada
Art Forum Berlin, Berlin, Germany
The Drawing Room, Santa Monica, CA. Second Prize Award
1998
Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver, Canada (solo show)
The university of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL. Honorarium paid (solo)
Festival of Vietnamese Arts, Quay Gallery, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, CANADA. Honorarium paid. Catalog. Visiting Artist
1997
Bachman Gallery - Northern Indiana Arts Association, Munster, Indian (solo)
Chico Art Center, Chico, California. Honorarium Paid (solo)
Diane Farris Gallery, Vancouver, Canada (solo show)
1996
" Les Parfums de L'exil " - Centre Interculturel Strathearn,Montreal, Quebec, CANADA. Honorarium paid. Catalog. Visiting Artist
"Skin and Bone'- Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA. Honorarium paid. Catalog
California State University, Long Beach, CA (also 1992)
University of the Pacific, Stockton, California (solo)
1995
WOMEN/Beyond Borders - World Traveling Exhibition 1995-present
"20 years after to fall of Saigon" - Downey Museum of Art, Downey, CA (group show)
L. A. Artcore Gallery ( group show )
Sinclair Community College, Dayton, Ohio. Honorarium Paid (solo)
1994
"A New Generation: Contemporary Vietnamese American Art" - California State University Fullerton's main gallery, Fullerton,
California (group show - Catalog )
Holter Museum of Art, Helena, Montana (group show)
California State University Long Beach. Annual Student Group Exhibits 1990- 1993. Best of show Awards
Acme Art Company, Columbus, OH Honorarium paid (solo)
Contemporary Arts Center, Burbank, CA (solo)
1993
Downey Museum of Art, Downey, CA (juried group show)
PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS:
Soundtransit, Seattle, WA
Seattle Arts Commission, Seattle, WA
Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, Oregon
Rockwell International World Headquarters, Los Angeles, CA
Everett Train Station, Everett, WA
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS:
Butler Institute , Little Rock, Arkansas
San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo, Texas
University of Alaska Museum of the North, Fairbanks, Alaska
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
Bass Museum of Art, Miami, Florida
Downey Museum of Art, Downey, California
Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, California
San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, California
VIFON-Vietnam Food Industries Company, HoChiMinh City, Vietnam
City of Kent portable art collections, Kent, WA
Las Vegas Arts Commissions' portable art collections, Las Vegas, NV
Regional Arts & Culture Council 's portable art collections, Portland, OR
Lynnwood Arts Commission, Lynnwood, Washington
Longview Art Museum, Longview, Texas
The Art Center of Waco, Waco, Texas
Wingluke Asian Art Museum, Seattle, Washington
Whatcom Museum of History and Art, Bellingham, Washington
McDonald Corporation, Berkeley, California
Monroe School District - Location: Monroe Highschool, Monroe, WA
City of Monroe - location: city hall , Monroe, WA
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS:
Claude Giroux, Montreal, Canada
Katherine and Don Levy, Honokaa, Hawaii
Karla Johnson, Honokaa, Hawaii
Sandi and Tim Bransford, Bothell, Washington
Lynne Hardy, MountLake Terrace, Washington
David and Michele Hasson, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
CRAIG V MCCONNELL, PRESCOTT, Arizona
Nance Myers, Seattle, Washington
Knapp, Chris and Holly, Everett, Washington
Mr. Anton Spisak, Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic
Tom Nelson, Seattle, WA
Pat Norikane Logerwell - Board of Director of Wing Luke Asian Museum, Seattle, Washington
Blanche Hill - Board of Director of Elmhurst Art Museum, Chicago, Illinois
Mimi Gates - Seattle Art Museum 's Director, Seattle, Washington
Welly Yang, Los Angeles, California
Margaret McKay-Green, Everett, Washington
Junie Moore, Lake Stevens, Washington
Marcia Schneider, Anacortes, Washington,
Don and Wanda Stein, Anacortes, Washington,
Ms. Liz Bui, San Diego, CA
Marlies Egberding, Everett, WA
Donna Lou and Peter Bladin, Seattle, WA
Erik and Hope Bernstein, Portland, OR
George and Maribeth Newland, Everett, WA
Thomp Harrington, Seattle, WA
Dan Jost, Seattle, WA
Wendy Coffman, M.D. , Monroe, WA
Rena Cornell, Monroe, WA
Sue McKay, Monroe, WA
Mr. Michael Killoren, Seattle, Washington
Mrs. Rebecca Halse, Lake Stevens, Washington
Michael Richards and Rita Brogan, Seattle, Washington
Nancy Murphy & Ken Kenickeberg, Renton, Washington
Mr. Thu Huu Nguyen, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Mr. Tuan Nguyen, Rockville, Maryland
Mr. Michael Weidenbach Honolulu, Hawaii
Mr. Michael O'Brian - Director of Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver,Canada
Ms. Beata Z. Gerritsen, Boulder, Colorado
Ms. Susan McDonnell, Los Angeles, California
Ms. Lenora Preciado, Seattle, Washington
Ms. Kathleen Carey, Seattle, Washington
Mr. and Mrs. Handler, Seattle, Washington
Rose & John Afalla, Honokaa, Hawaii
Mr. Guy Benson, Evanston, Illinois
Ms. Randy Rosenberg, Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Deeann Levy, Chicago, Illinois
Mr. Nguyen Xuan Khoi, Brossard, Quebec
Mr. Bruce Thacker, Tustin, California
Ms. Anita Holguin, Pico Rivera, California
Ms. Linda J. Hough & Mr. Nelson Petrovich, Laguna Beach, California
Mr. Thomas Kelly, Sacramento, California
Mr. Fred Feldmesser, Boston, MA
Mr. Edward Chue, Everett, Washington
Mr. Alec Clayton, Olympia, Washington
Ms. Nancy Sloan, Las Vegas, Nevada
Mr. Barry Tuddenman, Toronto, Canada
Mr. Ben Ferguson, Puyallup, Washington
Mr & Mrs. Gladney, Geneva, Florida
Ms. Naomi Ely, Limon, Colorado
Mr. Bruce Goto, Seattle, Washington
Mr. W. Michael Harris, Seattle, Washington (Artistic Director of ArtsWest, Seattle)
Mr & Mrs. Jim and JoAnn Burkett, Everett, Washington
Mr. Gary Snyder, Princeton, New Jersey(the owner of Gary Snyder Fine Art, NYC)
Mr. Marcio Fajardo, Seattle, Washington
Ms. Trang Tu, Seattle, Washington
Ms. Terry Bursett, Seattle, Washington
and others...

Publication:
My paintings are featured in : “Contemporary Painters”, page 164, Danijela Kracun (Author), Charles McFadden (Author) , published by Schiffer Publishing

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