Announcement    News alert: 4 of my paintings have recently been collected by Standard Chartered Bank SCB in Beijing and Hong Kong China.
*You are buying an original painting that will last a lifetime from an artist whose paintings graced the wall of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington DC and other art museums across the USA.

about me:
April 1975: Everyone knows the communists will overrun Saigon, but no one expected it to happen so fast. Over the last month, the sound of gunfire and explosions have slowly increased in frequency and force. We are so used to it that it has become a sort of background noise no one pays any attention to. Despite this, I remember waking on April 30th, alarmed at how close the sound of gunfire and explosions was to our neighborhood. The city was in chaos, dark smoke blanketed the horizon as people ran with whatever belongings they could carry. But as I watched it seemed that very few had any idea of where to go. My family and I hurriedly packed some clothes and fled to a friend's house in another part of the city called Cho-Lon which was safer. We could no longer stay in our home because it was near an army camp and therefore dangerous. My father was not with us because he and my mother had separated years earlier. Adding to our anxiety was a rumor that the communists have threatened to flatten Saigon if there is resistance. By noon the presidential palace had fallen and we knew it was all over. I was only 7 years old at the time and did not realize how bad the situation was, so I innocently told my mom that now Vietnam will be one country again so she can go back to North Vietnam to see my grandmother. My mom was delighted with the thought. Later that afternoon we drove to the harbor to see what was going on since the radio station had been captured by the communist and we no longer were getting any news. As we drove around the streets were now completely deserted and a strange silence had fallen on the city. The only people we saw were a few people left still burning records and documents in front of some government and military installations. More ominous was the fact that in the harbor most of the navy and merchant ships had already left. I asked my mom what was going on but she seemed lost in her thoughts, maybe she was thinking of the harsh choice she would soon have to make. My uncle and his wife had been staying one step ahead of the communists since they fled the central highlands. Because of the speed of the communist advance, the roads were jammed with refugees fleeing south making progress impossible for vehicles. Even though they did not want to be separated, my uncle was forced to put his wife on one of the boats heading to Saigon because she was pregnant and would never be able to keep up on foot. When he finally made it to Saigon a few weeks later, he found out that his wife has not arrived, and not knowing where she was or what else to do, decided to stay with us in the hope that she would find him. Later we learned that the boat she was on had unexpectedly dropped everyone, including his wife, off at Cam Ranh Bay (another city in the central highlands) to go back north for more refugees. My poor aunt was unable to find a way to get to Saigon until after the fighting was over and escape was impossible. Meanwhile, for the rest of us, time was running out. We knew that if we were going to leave it had to be now. We waved down one of the few remaining navy boats which was headed out to sea but stopped to pick us up. At this time not everyone was willing to escape by boat so while it was crowded, there was none of the panic and fighting as I saw in the photos taken at the American Embassy that day as the last helicopters were leaving. The gunfire was getting closer and my uncle was torn between staying to look for his wife and escaping, he was worried that he and his wife would face retribution if he stayed because he had been in the army. My mother was hesitant to get on board because she had to choose between leaving with us or staying so that she could see her mother for the first time since 1954 when North and South Vietnam were separated. Finally, she decided to stay and promised to find us after the war ended. As the boat pulled away I can still remember my mother standing on the dock, crying and waving to us. I was yelling: "Stop the boat, go back and get my mom", but it was too late. In those few minutes, my family has torn apart and for the last time, I saw Vietnam. As my mother watched the boat leaving with her children she was overcome with grief and changed her mind. Desperately she stood at the dock for five hours waiting for another boat to take her out to our ship, but none came. On the way out of Saigon, we saw hundreds of returning boats and some of them warned us not to go on because troops were shooting at any boats trying to escape to the open sea. The people on our boat were very determined and decided to take their chances and leave. Many of the boats we saw leaving were severely overloaded and one of the ships had run aground in shallow water. Our smaller boat pulled alongside the old, rust-streaked ship and an agreement was reached that everyone who wanted to could transfer from our boat to the ship, and in return, our boat would help pull the ship into deeper water. After struggling for three or four hours both vessels finally reached deep water and all passengers were transferred. The small boat turned back toward Saigon, taking a few people who had changed their minds and decided to go back. The ship, even more, overcrowded than before slowly headed out to the open ocean for the long dangerous voyage ahead. Even though we had made it out of Saigon there was no celebrating, everyone was dwelling on what they had left behind and what the uncertain future would hold. That night was pitch black, there were no lights on our ship or onshore. We watched fireworks shooting up from the coastal villages into the dark sky. The communists were celebrating their victory and we could hear one of the generals broadcasting a new set of rules which he called " the ten commandments ". These commandments were to govern life for those left behind in the new Vietnam. Our intended destination was Singapore and we slowly headed south. The weather was good and if it were not for the grim circumstances I might have been able to appreciate the beauty of the blue ocean and the small islands we passed. Once we saw some whales which terrified everyone because they were nearly as large as our ship and came very close. When I look back on the event, I think that everyone leaning over one side to watch the whales were more dangerous to the ship than the whales themselves. Things started to go seriously wrong a couple of days into the journey when our engine broke down. I guess this was not very surprising considering how old and decrepit our ship was to start with. There were many more small boats from coastal villages that followed us and dumped refugees onto our ship each day. The water started to come in from an existing hole on the side of the hull of our ship which is now below the waterline because of the refugees' weight. After drifting for a few days, our food and water were running out, making an already bad situation very desperate. People started to fight over food and water. Everyone was being very careful to ration their water and food except for this popular singer from Saigon who would use a great deal of her small supply of water to wash her face each day. Obviously, some people are more afraid of being unattractive than dying. Everyone thought that we were going to die slowly and horribly, despair settled over the ship like a numbing fog. A man near me decided not to wait and shot himself in the head. I remember screaming when his blood and brain tissue splattered on me. On the crowded deck, there was nowhere to store the body so there was no choice but to toss his body overboard and within minutes the sharks were fighting over it. As days passed, so great was my fear and loss that I felt neither hunger nor thirst. My mind had cut off my ability to feel or comprehend what was happening around me, which was maybe a good thing considering what life was like onboard. Even though the ship was extremely overcrowded there was very little talking, everyone seemed wrapped up in their own misery. My brother and sister sat nearby crying and hugging each other. The crowding was so great that one night when I stood up to stretch, I found that I could no longer find a space to sit back down so I ended up standing the entire night until I collapsed. Having learned my lesson I did not get up again until we were rescued. Despite our SOS signals and desperate attempts to get their attention, many ships passed us by without stopping but finally, after floating what seemed like forever we were picked up by a Danish freighter out of Thailand on their way to Hong Kong. After being left by so many other ships, everyone was afraid that if we did not get on board the freighter fast enough they would leave without us. Most of the people started to panic and there was a lot of pushing and shoving to get on board. Some fights even broke out and many passengers left their personal belongings behind in the mad rush. One man's leg got crushed between the two ships when they collided with each other. Many others fell into the water and drowned during the rescue. By the time we were rescued, I could not move my legs because of sitting in one spot for so long; I had to be carried up to the freighter by one of the ship's crew. That night as I was resting from my ordeal someone stole all the cash and jewelry that my mother had given me. So when it was over all I had left of Vietnam were memories of people and places that had been left behind. For many years afterward, I would get angry when I thought about what had happened and what I lost. I was not angry at anyone, in particular, rather I was angry about how events and ideologies which I did not understand could take me from everything I knew and loved.

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Prints on demand: greeting card, household items, phone cases, T-shirt, etc. available at:
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Thu Nguyen's Resume:
GRANTS:
Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation, Montreal, Canada
Pollock-Krasner Foundation, New York, New York
 
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 " and "ALLIED ARTISTS OF AMERICA"

EXHIBITIONS:

2023
The Edward Mitchell Bannister National Exhibition: Celebrating BIPOC Artists, sponsored by Providence Art Club, Providence, RI
MidSummer Art Celebration, 6th Annual All Media Juried Exhibit - Sponsored by Hawaii Island Art Alliance, HIAA, Wailoa Center, Hilo Hawaii
36th September Competition, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA
Proud to be seen - Bruce Baughman Studio & Gallery, sponsored by Tubac Center of the Arts, Tubac, AZ
The 36th Northern National Art Competition - Nicolet College Art Gallery, Rhinelander, Wisconsin
Nude Nite - Orlando 2023, Orlando FL
Masur Museum of Art's 60th Annual Juried Competition - Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA

2022
2022 Art for the View, Sunnyview Hospital in Schenectady, NY Best of show Award
NùD art of the figure, Graphite Art Center, Edmonds Washington
ViewPoint 54, sponsored by Cincinnati Art Club, Eisele Gallery, Cincinnati, OH
Realism Today - Pickens County Museum of Art, Pickens, SC
Proud To Be Seen - Bruce Baughman Studio and Gallery, sponsored by Tubac Center of the Arts, Tubac, AZ
I Figure: Contemporary Figurative Art - Arts Benicia, Benicia, CA
50 and Older Exhibition - Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA
2022 National Fine Art Show - Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, CO
16th Annual Emerald Spring Exhibition 2022 - Emerald Art Center 500 Main St Springfield, OR
"61st Stockton Art League Juried Exhibition" at The Haggin Museum Stockton, CA (sponsored by Stockton Art League)
"About Face" - Webster Arts, Webster Groves MO
"Love is in the air" - The Contemporary at Northern Waters Resort, Watersmeet, MI
37th Annual International Exhibition - The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler TX Juried Group Show

2021
"Holiday Small Works Show" - Kansas City Stockyards Gallery, Kansas City, MO Juried Group Show
"INSIGHTS IV Art Exhibition" - Zolla Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL. Juried Group Show
Lore Degenstein Gallery's 12th Annual Figurative Drawing and Painting Exhibition- Lore Degenstein Gallery, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA Juried Group Show
Viewpoint 53 - Cincinnati Art Club, hosted by Art Design Consultants, Cincinnati, Ohio
2021 Louisville Art Association National Fine Art Show - Louisville Art Association, Louisville, CO
2021 Art Ability at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital - Art Ability at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA
TRAHC's 33rd Annual Juried Exhibition, The Texarkana Regional Arts & Humanities Council, Texarkana Texas
Lakeland Art Guild 49th Annual Melvin Gallery Art Exhibition, Lakeland, FL
MidSummer Art Celebration 4th Annual All Media Juried Exhibit - Wailoa Center, Hilo, HI
Women's Work - Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN
34th September Competition - Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA
Providence Art Club National Open Juried Exhibition 2021 - Providence Art Club, Providence, RI
2021 National Fine Art Show - Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, Colorado
"Small Works" - The Rice Gallery of Fine Art, Overland Park Kansas
"Reflection - Women in Art" - Nuu Muse Contemporary Art, Dallas Texas
Figure It Out - 120ART,Taylor, TX

2020

15th Annual Emerald Spring Painting Exhibition 2020 - Emerald Art Center, Springfield, OR Award of Distinction
October National 2020 - Gallery 510, Decatur, IL
Center for Contemporary Arts National Juried Competition (CCAN), Abilene, TX
Arts Council of Wayne County 41st National Juried Art Show - Arts Council of Wayne County,Goldsboro, NC
2020 Art for the View -Sunnyview Rehabilitation Hospital Foundation, Schenectady, NY
ArtsThrive Art Exhibition & Benefit 2020- Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM
Muse - online exhibit sponsored by Art Fluent, Boston, MA
Art Ability 2020 at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA
Group show at Hilliard Gallery, Kansas City, MO
2020 Bank of the Arts National Juried Exhibition - Craven Arts Council & Gallery,New Bern, NC
Taos Insurgency 2020 - Greg Moon Art,Taos, NM
Taos Insurgency 2020 - Wilder Nightingale Gallery, Taos, NM
33rd September Competition - Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA
Dallas Metro Arts Contemporary - 2D National Juried Exhibition, Plano TX
15th Annual Emerald Spring Painting Exhibition 2020 - Emerald Art Center, Springfield, OR Award of Distinction
Providence Art Club National Open Juried Exhibition- Providence Art Club, Providence, RI AWARD OF MERIT
North x Northwest Exhibition: Women’s Work - Yellowstone Art Museum, Billings, Montana
Contemporary Figurative Show - Hilliard Gallery, Kansas City, MO
Art of Possibilities - Art Show and Sale, Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute, Golden Valley MN
Go Figure - SAA Collective Gallery, Springfield IL Second Place Award
FALC 25th Annual Juried Exhibition- Page Walker Arts and History Center, Cary NC
Nude Nite - Tampa 2020, Tampa FL
Core New Art Space: Mixed Media - Lakewood, CO
Artist's Vision - Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA
Valdosta National 2020, Valdosta State University, Dedo Maranville Fine Arts Gallery, Valdosta, GA
The Self-Portrait - University of North Carolina Wilmington, NC

2019
Fresh Art 2019 - Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA
The Us Show - Blue Line Arts, Roseville, CA
Changes - D'Art Gallery, Denver, CO
Arts Council of Wayne County 40th National Juried Art Show, Goldsboro, NC
In Gold We Trust - Art on 30th, San Diego, CA
November group show - Jones Gallery, Kansas City, MO
Zolla/Lieberman Gallery in Chicago
40th National Juried Art Show - Arts Council of Wayne County, Goldsboro, NC
64 ARTS - Buchanan Center for the Arts, Monmouth, IL
Schwa Show National Juried Exhibition - Emerge Gallery & Art Center, Greenville, NC
New Directions 2019 - Barrett Art Center/DCAA, Poughkeepsie, NY
Art Ability 2019 at Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, Malvern, PA Best of show award
2019 California Open Exhibition - TAG Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
"Strive: An Exhibition Highlighting American Immigration & the American Dream" - d'Art Center, Norfolk, VA. Juried group show
"Children's Mercy Hospital Benefit Art Show" - Jones Gallery, Kansas City, MO. Juried group show
"DART for ART" - Crooked Tree Arts Center, Petoskey MI. Juried Group Show
"All the Best" - South Wind Art Gallery, Topeka, KS. Juried Group Show
"INSIGHTS III Art Exhibition" - Zolla Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL. Juried Group Show
MidSummer Art Celebration 2019 - 2nd Annual All Media Juried Exhibit - WAILOA CENTER, Hilo Hawaii. Juried group show
"Ronald McDonald House Benefit Art Show" - Jones Gallery, Kansas City, MO. Juried group show
Solo show - Thu Nguyen Art Gallery, Kamuela Hawaii


 2018
"INSIGHTS II Art Exhibition" - Zolla Lieberman Gallery, Chicago, IL
Dreams of Paradise Gallery, Hilo, Hawaii
Kohala Mountain Gallery, Hawi, Hawaii
Third Dimension Gallery at the shops at Mauna Lani, Big Island
Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, WA
 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition Exhibition at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG) from March 12, 2016 through January 8, 2017.
It will then travel to four host museums across the country from February 2017 through August 2018.

2015
"Big Island Artists ", Hawaii Museum of Contemporary Art, Hilo, Hawaii. Juried
Group show at Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, WA
Group show at Third Dimension Gallery at the shops at Mauna Lani, Big Island of Hawaii

2014
"Art Port Townsend - 16th Annual Expression Northwest" - Northwind Arts Center, Port Townsend, WA ( juried group show, juror: Greg Robinson - curator & director of Bainbridge Island Museum of  Art) Merit Award
"Essence" Portrait Society of America Washington Chapter at The Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle (group show curated by Sue Peterson)
Group show at Third Dimension Gallery at the shops at Mauna Lani, Big Island of Hawaii

2013

Oil Painters of America's Online Showcase Summer of 2013
"Structures from the permanent collection" -  Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, Washington
"Small Treasures" - solo show at the Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, WA
"Au Naturel 2013" - Art Center Gallery, Clatsop Community College, Astoria, Oregon. (Juried group show)
"Richeson 75 Small Works 2013" - Richeson School of Art and Gallery, Kimberly, Wisconsin (juried group show)
"The CVG Show" - Collective Visions Gallery, Bremerton, WA
2012

"Four Seasons" a holiday group show at the Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, WA
Schack-toberfest, Schack Art Center, Everett, WA (group show)
"UNCLAD 2012 - the fine art of the figure" - Gloyd Norgaard Cultural Center, Stanwood, Washington. ( Juried group show)
Oil Painter of America's Online  Showcase Spring 2012
"New Work" - Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, WA Solo Show  
The sixth venue for Women-to-Watch 2011 Exhibition is:  Butler Institute , Little Rock, AR
Oil Painter of America's Online Showcase Summer 2012

2011

Oil Painters of America's Online Showcase Fall 2011
Fountainhead Gallery Group Show, December 2011. The Gift of Art -- Music
 "18th Annual Juried Art Show" - Schack Art Center, Everett, WA sponsored by Arts Council of Snohomis County
 Oil Painters of America’s Online Showcase Summer 2011
Kent Summer Art Exhibit & Gala, Centennial Center Gallery, Kent, WA
"Arkansas 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
The sixth venue for Women-to-Watch 2011 Exhibition is:  The Buttler Institute, Little Rock, 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)
"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:
SCB Standard Chartered Bank in Beijing and Hong Kong, China
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:
The Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation, Chicago, IL
Museum of Northwest Art, La Conner, Washington
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:
Hal Hinchliffe, Monroe, Louisiana
Nancy and Paul Pelosi, San Francisco CA
Ivanka and Jared Kushner, Washington D.C.
Cynthia Farner, San Francisco CA
Peter Littlefield, Pickens SC
Karen Ressmeyer, Seattle, WA
Tammy Morales, Seattle, WA
Christopher Wright, Dedham, MA
Jane Paduh, Topeka, KS
Shelly Nix, Lubbock, TX
Robert Sun,EASTON, PA
Cazier Laura, Kamuela, HI
Alex Poon,YUEN LONG Hong Kong
Corey Stottlemyer, FREDERICK, MD
Chang Yu/Jameson cortes, VERONA, WI
Julia A Calhoun, Seattle/Honolulu
Xuan-Thu Phan, SAN CARLOS, CA
Jessica Goldman, Kamela, Hawaii
Mark Hamilton, Portland, Oregon
Jessica Pavish and Jim Arrabito, Everett, WA
Dee Hartman, Wormleysburg, PA
Linda Pelling, Eastbourne United Kingdom
Dave Snazuk, Kohala Ranch, Hawaii
Michael Spitz, HARVEST, Alabama
Jamie Pagels, Honolulu, Hawaii
Janet and Jack Cheetham, Mercer Island, WA
Amy Williams, Portland, OR
Elizabeth A. Williamson, Waikoloa Village, HI
William & Vivian Heaney, Kamuela, HI
Spencer Williams, Honokaa, HI
Dana Coyle , Vero Beach , Florida
Sylvia Spranger, Albany, California
Laura Evans, Jefferson, Colorado
Matt Bolin, Everett, WA
Amelia Hughes, Las Vegas, NV
Neil Forsberg, Corvallis, OR
Maya Philipson, San Francisco, CA 
Joel Wolk, San Francisco, CA
Beth Terrell, Seattle, WA
Christina McPherson, Seattle, WA
Everett Thomas, Portland, OR
Bob Weinberg & Jeannie Butler, Seattle, WA
Brenda and Tom Stonecipher, Everett, WA
Ronald Green and Carolyn Henri, Everett, WA
Leonard Lewicki, Seattle, WA                        
Philip Dowgierd, London, United Kingdom  
Maria Luna, Novato, California
Susan Barnes, Hawi, Hawaii
Llew Mason, Seattle, WA
Kim Reese, Michigan City, Indiana
Richard McCathy, Mt. Tremper, NY
Eduardo Puelma, Portland, Oregon
Fay Chapman, Seattle, Washington
Carm and Regina Pierce, Everett, Washington
Jeff Olsen, Everett, Washington
Karen Hackenberg, Port Townsend, Washington
Katherine and Don Levy, Anacortez, WA
Bill and Janette Adamucci, Seattle, Washington
Karla Johnson, Honokaa, Hawaii
Claude Giroux, Montreal, Canada
Sandy 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...

*Painting is a way of communicating and revealing the individual truths of the artist. The most powerful paintings are those that tell a story and leave you with a sense of wonder and mystery. They provoke you to feel and furthermore act. This lingering sensation is the magic of Art. It is where the two-dimensional painting gives way to a world of imagination. These stories can encompass emotions and feelings or explore the personal ideals of its creator. They can harbor deeply rooted frustrations or exemplify the most beautiful vistas of the artist’s world. It is at this moment, that artistry bridges the gap of physical with spiritual and unlocks the power of the conceptual mind. For those brave enough to challenge themselves with the artistic journey, whether as creator or patron, they are granted an unparalleled view into the heart of the universe, the birthplace of the astounding.