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About Me
Đan Lynh Phạm (b. 1993, Saigon) is a Vietnamese interdisciplinary artist and illustrator. Born in Vietnam and raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she holds a BFA in Studio Arts from Oklahoma State University, specializing in watercolor and sculpture.
Blending graphic elements with Vietnamese art traditions, Phạm’s work is guided by an analytical approach to art making. Her work serves as a visual diary, intertwining 2D and 3D media to examine themes of identity, socialization, and her lived experience as a refugee.
Phạm is a recipient of the Artist Creative Fund Grant and the THRIVE Grant. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, including the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Oklahoma Contemporary, Orange County Contemporary Center for Arts, and Wells Contemporary, with solo exhibitions across Oklahoma and Texas. Through her practice, she seeks to bridge personal narratives with broader cultural dialogues, offering nuanced perspectives on heritage and belonging.
Artist Statement
Growing up as a Vietnamese refugee in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I navigated the tension between two cultural identities, one rooted in Confucian family values and the other in American individualism. At home, filial piety and deference to elders were fundamental. Outside the walls of my home, I was expected to adopt a culture that celebrated independence, self-achievement, and assertiveness. The contrast was stark. In one of my worlds, obedience and courtesy served as social currency; in the other, they were exploited as weaknesses. These conflicting expectations often made my Vietnamese heritage feel like a barrier to belonging and an obstacle to success in America.
With time, however, I have come to recognize the profound value of my heritage. The sacrifices of my parents and ancestors are not just stories of hardship but testaments to resilience and love. Preserving my culture is both a responsibility and a privilege—a way to ensure that their struggles were not in vain and to see it as a source of strength and inspiration.
My work functions as a visual diary, an exploration of identity, cultural preservation, and generational sacrifice. Drawing from Vietnamese artistic traditions, I integrate graphic language, vibrant colors, and intricate compositions to create a visual dialogue that is deeply personal yet universally resonant. Each piece is methodically planned, and every element is intentional. Patterns and symbols act as bridges between past and present, weaving narratives of displacement, adaptation, and survival. Through this process, I reconcile the dualities of my upbringing, creating work that not only honors my heritage but also invites reflection on the broader experience of cultural identity and belonging.
