Born and raised in Tkaronto (Toronto), Phuong Nguyen is a Tkaronto-based visual artist working in representational oil painting and experimental weaving. Nguyen uses these mediums to explore themes of Ornamentalism, Orientalism, and the relationship between exoticism and violence by referencing Orientalist scholarship, and the aesthetics and history of Chinoiserie in relationship to South East Asian/Vietnamese femininity. Nguyen holds a BFA from OCAD University (2014).
Grants + Awards
2025, Ontario Arts Council, Visual Artist Creation Grant
2024, CIBC C2 Art Program 2024 finalist (non-winner)
2023, Toronto Arts Council, Visual Artists Program: Creation
2023, Canada Council for the Arts, Explore and Create: Professional Development for Artists
2023, Ontario Arts Council, Visual Artist Creation Grant
2022, Toronto Arts Council, Visual Artists Program: Creation
Education
2014 Bachelor of Fine Art at OCAD U
Solo Exhibitions
2023 "The Wind Returns To The Soil" TAP Artspace, Montreal Canada
2015 “PASSIVE/AGGRESSIVE” Gallery 1313
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025 "Interwoven Identities", Asian Arts and Culture Trust, Toronto Canada
2025 “A Familiar Distance”, Tian Contemporain, Montreal Canada
2025 “Pattern and Motif”, Design TO Festival @ Gladstone Hotel, Toronto Canada
2024 "December Group Show", Olga Korper Gallery, Toronto Canada
2024 "Early Bird Gets the Worm" Aurora Cultural Centre, Aurora Canada
2023 "Cruel to be Kind" Pictura @ Stewart Hall Art Gallery, Montreal Canada
2023 "Arrival", Duran Mashaal Gallery, Montreal Canada
2022 “Stat. Sig.”, TAP Artspace, Montreal Canada
2022 “Fibreworks 2022”, Art Galleries of Cambridge, Cambridge Canada
2022 Erring at King George, Public Energy, Peterborough ON
2022 “Luminous Bodies”, Curated by TAP Artspace at Cache Studio and Gallery, Montreal Canada
2020 “Quarantine Qapsule”, Myseum of Toronto and Tea Base, online.
2019 “Chill Life: Contemporary Still Life” the White House, Toronto Canada
2019 “Building Power: A Benefit for VOCAL-NY and the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights”, Planthouse Gallery, New York USA
2018“Ideation” Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg USA
2016 "OH SO T.O." YTB Gallery @ Katzman Contemporary, Toronto Canada
2016 "Impossible Possession" Gladstone Hotel, Toronto Canada
2016 "In the Study of Figure" Red Gate Arts Society, Vancouver Canada
2015 "THOUGHTBAGS (Or, Every Image is a Gushing Sack of Ideas)" YTB Gallery, Toronto Canada
2015 "I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THIS BELONGS" Project Gallery (now Patel Brown Gallery), Toronto Canada
2015 "Cognitive Release" Yellow House Gallery, Toronto Canada
2014 “Experiencing Perspectives 2014-2015 Art Exhibition”, Mercedes-Benz Financial Services, Mississauga Canada
2014 “The Immaculate Selfie” The Black Cat & Project Gallery (now Patel Brown Gallery), Toronto Canada
2014 “Progression”, Scarborough Civic Centre. Toronto Canada
2014 “Hazelton Lanes Arts Festival” juried exhibition. Toronto Canada
Art Fairs
2025 Group Show, SSEW Project @ San Francisco Art Fair, San Francisco USA
2025 Group Show, Tian Contemporain @ Plural, Montreal Canada
2024 Group show, Olga Korper Gallery @ Art Toronto, Toronto Canada
2023 Group show, TAP Artspace @ Art Toronto
2023 TAP Artspace @ Foire Plural, Montreal Canada
Auctions
2024 "Art with Heart", Fundraising Auction for Casey House, Toronto Canada
2024 "Ignite", Fundraising Auction for Art Papers, Atlanta USA
2023 "Vendu-Sold", Fundraising Auction for Esse, Montreal Canada
2023 "Art with Heart", Fundraising Auction for Casey House, Toronto Canada
2022 “Art Gems Auction” Fundraising Auction for Creative Works Studio, Toronto Canada
2019 “Building Power: A Benefit for VOCAL-NY and the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights”, Planthouse Gallery, New York USA
2018 “Art Gems Auction” Fundraising Auction for Creative Works Studio, Toronto Canada
2017 “Art Gems Auction” Fundraising Auction for Creative Works Studio, Toronto Canada
2016 "Teddy Bear Affair Charity Auction" for the Children's Aid Foundation, Toronto Metro Convention Centre, Toronto Canada
2016 "OH SO T.O." YTB Gallery @ Katzman Contemporary, Toronto Canada
2015 "VIP YTB Gala" YTB Gallery
Residencies
2024 Gladstone House Toronto, Canada.
2013 Gibraltar Point, Artscape Toronto Island, Toronto, Canada.
Selected Bibliography
2021 “It Didn’t Have To Be This Way” Chatelaine Magazine, January 2021 issue.
2020 “Envisage” The Canadian Art Therapy Association Magazine Vol. 3 Issue 2.
2020 “Hastings & Pain': Artist shares striking paintings of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside”
2017 "Spring 2017" the Maynard
2014 “Experiencing Perspectives 2014-2015 Art Exhibition” Mercedes-Benz Financial Services
2014 ARTORONTO “The Immaculate Selfie at the Black Cat Gallery”