French-Vietnamese artist Hom Nguyen (b. 1972, Paris) creates emotionally charged portraits that probe the depths of human identity. Raised in modest circumstances by his mother, a Vietnamese refugee whose courage and resilience left an enduring mark, Nguyen’s work reflects a life shaped by strength, vulnerability, and perseverance.
Self-taught, Nguyen turned fully to painting in 2009, driven by an inner urgency to translate emotion into form. His large-scale portraits, characterized by vigorous linework and layered color, explore the tension between outer appearance and inner truth. Each face becomes both a mirror and a veil, an encounter with the unseen self.
Nguyen’s practice extends beyond the studio through his engagement with humanitarian causes, including Secours Populaire, Les Enfants du Mékong, and the Maison de la Femme in Saint-Denis. In 2021, he was named Chevalier de l’Ordre national du Mérite, honoring his dual commitment to art and compassion.
