Thu Nguyen

I was born in Saigon, Vietnam. Being very shy, I spent much of my childhood hiding away upstairs painting, instead of playing with other children. My first brush with success was a Best of Show prize at the 1974 children's exhibition in Saigon sponsored by UNICEF. In 1975 Saigon fell and in the resulting confusion I was separated from my parents. I ended up in a refuge camp near Hong Kong for a year prior to immigrating to the United States as an orphan. After one very snowy and cold winter in Pennsylvania, I went to Los Angeles to stay with some relatives. During my high school years, I earned extra money doing fashion modeling work in the garment district and upon graduation started on the pre-med program in college. During this time I fell in love with art again and changed my major to art. While in college I had an acting stint in Hollywood on the side (I got a part in Oliver Stone's 'Heaven and Earth' and followed with a lead role in Elizabeth Hong Yang's 'Touch Within' in China). After getting my art degree, I have since settled down to pursue my art career in Los Angeles, later Seattle, Hawaii and finally Acapulco Mexico. Professional qualifications: BFA in painting, California State University Long Beach . Two grants from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Three grants from the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation. My work is represented in many public and private collections in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Mexico. Current and Upcoming Exhibitions: Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery (NPG) 2016 portrait competition exhibition (March 12, 2016 through January 8, 2017). It will then travel to five host museums across the country: Tacoma Art Museum, WA February 4, 2017 to May 14, 2017   Art Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, TX June 2, 2017 to September 10, 2017   Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO October 8, 2017 to January 7, 2018   Artis—Naples, The Baker Museum, Naples, FL January 31, 2018 to May 6, 2018   Ackland Museum of Art, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC June 1, 2018 to August 26, 2018

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)

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"