Musings of an Origin

Lien Truong’s paintings examine social, cultural, and political history, exploring influences that form contemporary identity and belief systems in a transcultural context. She employs a rich pastiche of styles and media as she explores the cultural dynamics of domination, assimilation, and resistance throughout history. Embedded histories of exclusion or assimilation, Truong utilizes traditionally feminine practices such as embroidery and silk painting in her works as a contrast to the often harsh socio-political themes she depicts.

Truong’s work has been exhibited in the National Portrait Gallery, North Carolina Museum of Art, Station Museum of Contemporary Art in Houston, the Centres of Contemporary Art in Moscow and Yekaterinburg, Oakland Museum of California. Lien is also the recipient of many awards and fellowships. Born in Saigon, Vietnam, Truong immigrated to the U.S. in 1975. She received her M.F.A. from Mills College in Oakland, California, where she studied under feminist artist Hung Liu.