Tuan Vu

Tuan Vu was born in Saigon, Vietnam, in 1971. At age 10, with his mom and younger brother they escaped to Canada by boat as refugees, while his older siblings were dispersed in other countries.

As far back as he can remember, he always created. In his 20’s he graduated as an engineer, which is a career he pursued until recently. Meanwhile over the years, he nourished his passion and natural aptitude for art by attending drawing, painting, and photography workshops at the University of Montreal. It was during the pandemic in 2021 that he decided to fully dedicate himself to his passion; Art.

With skillful brushstrokes, Vu has a keen eye to capture the raw energy between the characters and nature he paints. The vivid imagery and striking colors in his paintings captures the essence of the scene with remarkable finesse. Even when he depicts a dramatic tableau, the artwork translates beauty, sensuality, and romanticism, as if it is a dream or a mirage. In his work, the influence of his homeland’s tropical landscape and visual references are obvious. Tuan Vu continues to have inner conflicts between his Asian origins and his Western acculturation.

Since 2016, Vu has participated in several group exhibitions in Canada, including gallery representation. Vu received a Merit for his participation in the Luxembourg Art Prize (2021 and 2022). He was selected among the finalist artists for the 30th-anniversary edition of the London-based magazine ArtMaze (2022) and Friends of Artists (FOA). 2023 is a prosperous year for the artist. His work was chosen for group exhibitions in Montreal, Los Angeles, and Berlin by international galleries. In September, he had his first solo exhibition outside of Canada with Simard Bilodeau Contemporary. In March 2024, he will have his first European solo exhibition in London.