Nguyen Lam (third from left) is a prominent Vietnamese painter and father of a unique creative family of artists. His talented offspring include Daughter Huyen Lam born in 1962, Son Lam Huynh Linh born in 1970 and daughter Lam Lan born in 1980. All are members of the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association and the Vietnam Fine Arts Association. When asked about his unique family of artists, father Lam says “I am happy because all of them make a living by painting while obeying and respecting each other’s work.

Nguyen Lam graduated from Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts College in 1965 at a time when a progressive artistic movement was developing in Vietnam. In 1973 he was recognised as one of a small group of artists who was bringing Vietnamese art in a more authentic and unique direction; creating paintings that answered to the Vietnamese reality. His artistic creativity spanning nearly sixty years has moved from early figurative paintings in the traditional lacquer style to abstraction. Inspired by the energy and purity of calligraphy, Lam began to create abstract oils that retained dynamic big brushstrokes of black while simultaneously introducing complex colours and textures. The results are bright and powerful paintings that are both modern and minimalistic. With meditation an important part of his process, he insists that each brushstroke must be perfect to attain the ideal simplicity of form. Nguyen Lam’s works are in the permanent collections of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, the National Gallery Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Art, as well as in private collections throughout Asia, Europe and America.