Bao-Khang Luu
Artist Statement
As a child, I loved exploring New England tide pools and discovering little sea creatures. That sense of wonder is the foundation of the Mistral Series. The paintings explore our personal perspective, limited capacity for compassion, place in the wider world. Each painting features a tiny crab, smaller than the nail on a pinky finger, hidden within the abstract seascape.
To create the paintings, I refined the childhood technique of blowing paint with a straw. This method, while physically demanding and precise, still embodies a sense of freedom and play.
Years of training as a strength athlete has given me the physical and mental endurance needed to bring each painting to life. Each piece consists of dozens of painstaking layers and thousands of starbursts rendered by blowing acrylic paint with a metal straw, and requires several weeks to a year and a half to complete.
Biography
My father, a Vietnamese refugee rebuilding his life in the US, used to repair and create the things we needed. It wasn't until later in life that I came to appreciate the perspective required to build and cherish makeshift items. My education in design and creative material usage revealed the innate possibilities of everyday things.
I work with various materials, but my art is unified by a couple of common themes. Firstly, I believe that everything possesses inherent beauty and intrinsic value. I encourage the viewer to reconsider things that we might not usually give a second thought to. Secondly, each series of my work is tied to a specific place.
My artistic practice has encompassed dance, installation, interactive technology, and traditional media. I have been featured on national television shows such as The Nate Berkus Show, Extreme Makeover Home Edition, Flea Market Flip) and have also received attention from media outlets like Surface, Inhabitat, Apartment Therapy) for my approach to upcycling in home decor.
I have a BFA UT Austin, an MFA from Parsons NY.
I currently live in Switzerland with my husband and two sons.
EXHIBITIONS
2024
Beauty in Progress, 2358 MRKT Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Water, Teravarna, www.teravarna.com/winners-2023-water-5
2023
Blue, Art Room Gallery, www.artroomgalleryonline.com
Water, Teravarna, www.teravarna.com/winners-2023-water-4
Cool Summer Vibes, 2358 MRKT Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Nicoleta Gallery Berlin, Berlin, Germany
Abstract, Teravarna, www.teravarna.com/winners-2023-abstract-9
Starbelly, San Francisco, USA
Gaylien, O-Rama, San Francisco, USA
ArtExpo Basel, EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg, Saint-Louis, France
Visible, 2358 MRKT Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Pride Is Not a Crime, Helvella Art, Oakland, USA
Kaleidoscope, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Tableaux, Flame-O-Rama, San Francisco, USA
Abstract Is Abstract, HMVC Gallery New York, www.hmvcgallery.com
Natural Forms, Queer Arts Featured Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Casa Del Arte, Palma, Spain
ArtSpan Juried Benefit Art Auction, 111 Minna Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Abstract, Art Show International Gallery, www.artshowinternational.com
Open, Art Room Gallery, www.artroomgalleryonline.com
48 Pillars, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, USA
Johnathan Schultz Gallery, Miami, USA
Art Lab LA, Los Angeles, USA
2022
Small Works, Main Street Arts, Clifton Springs, USA
SFOS Showcase Exhibition, SOMArts Cultural Center, San Francisco, USA
SwissArtExpo, SBB Event Hall, Zurich, Switzerland
COLOR, Art Show International Gallery, www.artshowinternational.com
Artistic Independence, Las Laguna Gallery, www.laslagunaartgallery.com
Patterns, Textures & Forms, Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery, www.lightspacetime.art
Waters, Art Room Gallery, www.artroomgalleryonline.com
Textures, Shapes, Patterns or Forms, Las Laguna Gallery, www.laslagunaartgallery.com
SwissArtExpo, SBB Event Hall, Zurich, Switzerland
Bioneers Conference, Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, USA
Pacific Art League Members Exhibit, Palo Alto, USA
Small Works, Soft Times Gallery, San Francisco, USA
ArtSpan Juried Benefit Art Auction, San Francisco, USA
Soft Times Soft Launch Auction, Soft Times Gallery, San Francisco, USA
2021
SFOS Showcase Exhibition, SOMArts Cultural Center, San Francisco, USA
Abstracted, art-fluent.com
SwissArtExpo, Zurich Main Station, Bahnhofplatz, Switzerland
2020
vernissage, Galerie Alpine, Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland
SwissArtExpo, Zurich Main Station, Bahnhofplatz, Switzerland
2011
Apartment Therapy Design Showcase, New York City, USA
Parsons Alumni Juried Exhibition, Arnold & Sheila Aronson Galleries, New York City, USA
COLLECTIONS
Michelle Cooke collection, San Francisco, USA
Cynthia Farner collection, San Francisco, USA
Archer Boswell collection, San Francisco, USA
Mojgan Sadrzadeh collection, San Francisco, USA
Private collection, Belmont, USA
Private collection, Greensboro, USA
Private collection, Gryon, Switzerland
Private collection, New York City, USA
Private collection, Oahu, USA
Private collection, Reno, USA
Private collection, Seattle, USA
Private collection, Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland
COMMISSIONS
2023
Corporate Art Commission Boole 2.1 - 2.7
bicycle rims, paracord, North Carolina, USA
2021
Private Art Commission Une Reconfiguration 27
pine cone scales, wood, acrylic, cardboard, wood putty, Houston, USA
2021
Corporate Art Commission Boole 1.1 - 1.4
bicycle rims, elastic, North Carolina, USA
2020
Private Art Commission Une Reconfiguration 25
pine cone scales, wood, acrylic, Chesières, Switzerland
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2023
“Transcribing Queer Experiences: Art Journey of Parenthood and Creative Unblocking”, Minjic
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/transcribing-queer-experiences-bao-khang-luus-art-journey/id1627944222?i=1000617727761
Artwork Archive
https://www.instagram.com/p/CsEWyf6OChz/
Divide Magazine, Issue 1, 33
https://issuu.com/divideartmagazine/docs/issue_1_addition_mag
2022
“This Artist Turns Mundane Discarded Objects Into Works of Art”, Artwork Archive
https://www.artworkarchive.com/blog/this-artist-turns-mundane-discarded-objects-into-works-of-art
“We the Artists”, ArtSpan
https://www.baokhangluu.com/post/artspan-we-the-artists
“Yes, ART! Spotlight Artist”, ArtSpan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMP22_3GkXs
2021
“Interview with Bao-Khang Luu: Inherent Beauty in Everything”, Galerie Alpine
https://www.galeriealpine.com/news-and-announcements/interview-with-bao-khang-luu
2015
Post-Petroleum Design, George Elvin, 9781138853904
2013
Eco Design, Ivy Liu/Jian Wong, 8492810912
2011
“Design Perennial” Surface Asia, Volume 6, 24
2010
“Recycled Six-Pack Ring Chandeliers Turn Trash Into Lavish Lamps” Inhabitat
https://inhabitat.com/recycled-six-pack-ring-chandeliers-turn-trash-into-lavish-lamps
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2024
Contemporary Art Collectors, Emerging Artist Program Winner
Teravarna, Honorable Mention, “Water" exhibition
2023
Teravarna, Honorable Mention, “Water" exhibition
Teravarna, Honorable Mention, “Abstract" exhibition
Artshow International, Finalist, “Abstract" exhibition
Art Room Gallery, Honorable Mention, “Open” exhibition
2022
The Sheridan Prize for Art, Artists' Choice 1st honorable mention
ArtSpan SFOS Exhibition, Top 5 Pick
Luxembourg Art Prize, Artistic Merit
Artshow International, Talent Prize Award
Artshow International, Finalist
Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery, Honorable Mention
Art Room Gallery, Honorable Mention
2021
Luxembourg Art Prize, Artistic Merit
2016
Bargain Hunt
2012
Flea Market Flip
2011
The Nate Berkus Show
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition
Apartment Therapy Design Evening
Apartment Therapy Design Showcase
Philips Bright Ideas Competition, finalist
2010
Inhabitat Spring Competition, finalist
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS & GALLERY AFFILIATIONS
Galerie Alpine, Villars-sur-Ollons, Switzerland
2358MRKT, San Francisco, USA
Wescover, San Francisco, USA
ArtSpan, San Francisco, USA
VOLUNTEERING
2022-2023 Infinity Art Committee, chair
2022-2023 ArtSpan ORC committee, member
2022 -2023 ArtSpan EDI committee, founding member
EDUCATION
Design and Technology, MFA, Parsons School of Design
Design, BFA, University of Texas at Austin
Sustainable Design Entrepreneurship, Certification, Fashion Institute of Technology