Thong Le
San Jose, AL United States
Thong Le is an artist, immigrant, father, and husband. Thong paints oil on canvas, focusing on landscapes, still-life, impressionist, and abstract paintings. His artistic philosophy revolves around the conveyance of emotion; Thong believes that paint... More
Artist Statement:
Thong Le is an artist, immigrant, father, and husband. Thong paints oil on canvas, focusing on landscapes, still-life, impressionist, and abstract paintings. His artistic philosophy revolves around the conveyance of emotion; Thong believes that paintings should not resemble photography, and that they should produce deep reactions within the viewer.
Thong is self-educated in art, having first discovered his passion as boy in Vietnam. His life, however, did not provide him opportunities to pursue art: Thong enlisted in the army of South Vietnam as a teenager, surrendered in 1975, and spent ten years in a reeducation camp. Upon coming to the United States in 1994, he devoted his time to raising his family and made his living as a construction worker. It was only after a cancer diagnosis in 2008 that Thong realized it was finally time to pursue his passion (he is cancer-free today). Since then, Thong has won numerous awards in art competitions all over the Bay Area, taught in classes and demonstrations, and exhibited his work in the Triton Museum, Tabard Theater, and numerous galleries.
Thong is self-educated in art, having first discovered his passion as boy in Vietnam. His life, however, did not provide him opportunities to pursue art: Thong enlisted in the army of South Vietnam as a teenager, surrendered in 1975, and spent ten years in a reeducation camp. Upon coming to the United States in 1994, he devoted his time to raising his family and made his living as a construction worker. It was only after a cancer diagnosis in 2008 that Thong realized it was finally time to pursue his passion (he is cancer-free today). Since then, Thong has won numerous awards in art competitions all over the Bay Area, taught in classes and demonstrations, and exhibited his work in the Triton Museum, Tabard Theater, and numerous galleries.
Awards & Distinctions:
January 2014
East Valley Artists Association
Artist of the Month
Third Place
February 2014
East Valley Artists Association
Artist of the Month
First Place
March 2014
East Valley Artists Association
Artist of the Month
Third Place
May 2014
East Valley Artists Association
Artist of the Month
Third Place
June 2014
East Valley Artists Association
Artist of the Month
First Place
July 2014
East Valley Artists Association
Artist of the Month
Second Place
July 2014
EVA Annual Art Show
First Place
July 2014
Los Gatos Art Association
Second Place
September 2014
Los Gatos Art Association
Third Place
2014 Artist of the Year
East Valley Artists Association
February 2015
East Valley Artists Association
First Place
March 2015
East Valley Artists Association
Art Contest
Second Place
May 2015
Los Gatos Artists Association
Art Contest
First Place
June 2015
Los Gatos Artists Association
Art Contest
First Place
June 2015
East Valley Artists Association
Art Contest
First Place
June 2015
East Valley Artists Association
Annual Art Show
First Place
June 2015
East Valley Artists Association
Annual Art Show
Third Place
September 2015
Los Gatos Artists Association
Art Contest
Second Place
December 2015
East Valley Artists Association
Artist of the Year
March 2016
East Valley Artists Association
First Place
June 2016
Los Gatos Artists Association
First Place
East Valley Artists Association
Artist of the Month
Third Place
February 2014
East Valley Artists Association
Artist of the Month
First Place
March 2014
East Valley Artists Association
Artist of the Month
Third Place
May 2014
East Valley Artists Association
Artist of the Month
Third Place
June 2014
East Valley Artists Association
Artist of the Month
First Place
July 2014
East Valley Artists Association
Artist of the Month
Second Place
July 2014
EVA Annual Art Show
First Place
July 2014
Los Gatos Art Association
Second Place
September 2014
Los Gatos Art Association
Third Place
2014 Artist of the Year
East Valley Artists Association
February 2015
East Valley Artists Association
First Place
March 2015
East Valley Artists Association
Art Contest
Second Place
May 2015
Los Gatos Artists Association
Art Contest
First Place
June 2015
Los Gatos Artists Association
Art Contest
First Place
June 2015
East Valley Artists Association
Art Contest
First Place
June 2015
East Valley Artists Association
Annual Art Show
First Place
June 2015
East Valley Artists Association
Annual Art Show
Third Place
September 2015
Los Gatos Artists Association
Art Contest
Second Place
December 2015
East Valley Artists Association
Artist of the Year
March 2016
East Valley Artists Association
First Place
June 2016
Los Gatos Artists Association
First Place
Professional/Teaching Experience:
East Valley Artists Association
Portrait Instructor
San Jose, CA
Milpitas Artists Association
Portrait Instructor
Milpitas, CA
Portrait Instructor
San Jose, CA
Milpitas Artists Association
Portrait Instructor
Milpitas, CA
Exhibitions:
June 2014
Triton Museum
San Jose, CA
July 2014
Department of Motor Vehicles
Los Gatos, CA
August 2014
Jazz on the Grass
San Jose, CA
August to November 2014
City Council Chambers
Los Gatos, CA
November to December 2014
Fall Member's Juried Art Show
Los Gatos, CA
February 2015
Foothills Library
San Jose, CA
August 2015
East Valley Artists Association
Annual Art Show
San Jose, CA
November 2015
Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center Silicon Valley
Los Gatos, CA
May 2016
Tabard Theatre
San Jose, CA
June 2016
Triton Museum
San Jose, CA
July 2016
Bruni Gallery
San Jose, CA
July 2016
AZ Fine Art Gallery
San Jose, CA
Triton Museum
San Jose, CA
July 2014
Department of Motor Vehicles
Los Gatos, CA
August 2014
Jazz on the Grass
San Jose, CA
August to November 2014
City Council Chambers
Los Gatos, CA
November to December 2014
Fall Member's Juried Art Show
Los Gatos, CA
February 2015
Foothills Library
San Jose, CA
August 2015
East Valley Artists Association
Annual Art Show
San Jose, CA
November 2015
Addison-Penzak Jewish Community Center Silicon Valley
Los Gatos, CA
May 2016
Tabard Theatre
San Jose, CA
June 2016
Triton Museum
San Jose, CA
July 2016
Bruni Gallery
San Jose, CA
July 2016
AZ Fine Art Gallery
San Jose, CA
Artist Tags:
abstract, impressionism, still life, portrait, landscape
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