Vietnam Paintings: Most Famous Artists, Where & Tips for Buying Paintings (P2)

Vietnam’s 15 Most Famous Artists (from left to right) – Row 1: Bui Xuan Phai, Le Quoc Loc, Nguyen Khang ; Row 2: Nguyen Sang, Nguyen Trong Hop, Nguyen Tu Nghiem ; Row 3: Phan Ke An, To Ngoc Van, Tran Dinh Tho

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15 Vietnamese Most Famous Artists

The Quartet “Nghiem, Lien, Sang, Phai”

These 4 famous artists are the brightest stars in the second half of the 20th century. Compared to the remaining art quartets, in the country, Nghiem – Lien – Sang – Phai may be more famous because they are closely associated with the ups and downs of fine arts in the second half of the 20th century. This is the period in which criticism, about the market, about brand positioning, etc. took place stronger than ever. The names of this quartet all have street names and contributed 4 works to the national treasures as well as most famous Vietnamese paintings of all time.

1. Artist Nguyen Tu Nghiem (1922-2016)

Education: The Indochina Fine Arts College of Painting, XV course

Genre: Vietnamese Folklore

Prizes: Ho Chi Minh Prize, Official prize of the International Art Exhibition, National Fine Arts Exhibition Awards, etc.

Famous works: Nguoi gac Van Mieu, Cong lang Mong Phu, Danh co duoi bong tre, Tram gac, Con nghe, Giong, Muoi hai con giap, etc.

Ancient Dance (Lacquer painting) by Nguyen Tu Nghiem

Giong (Lacquer painting) by Nguyen Tu Nghiem

Spring in the Hoan Kiem Lake (Lacquer painting) by Nguyen Tu Nghiem

2. Artist Duong Bich Lien (1924-1988)

Education: The Indochina Fine Arts College of Painting, XVIII course

Genre: Portrait

Prizes: Ho Chi Minh Prize

Famous works: Di hoc dem, Ngay mua, Chieu vang, Di vang, Hai em be ben bo song, Bac Ho o chien khu Viet Bac (1980), Hao, Di cay sau lu, etc.

Uncle Ho in Viet Bac resistance base (Lacquer painting) by Duong Bich Lien

Border in the Afternoon (Lacquer painting) by Duong Bich Lien

Moat by Duong Bich Lien

Miss Mai (Lacquer painting) by Duong Bich Lien

3. Artist Nguyen Sang (1923-1988)

Education: The Indochina Fine Arts College of Painting

Painting field: Oil paint and lacquer

Awards: Independence Medal, Third Class, Medal for the career of Vietnamese Literature and Arts, Medal for Vietnamese Fine Arts career, Ho Chi Minh Prize.

Famous works: Vat, Vietnamese Stamps, Ket nap Dang o Dien Bien Phu, Chan dung ba Don Thu, Thanh nien Thanh Dong

The Enemy Burned My Village (Lacquer painting) by Nguyen Sang

Ceremony admitting a new member to the Communist Party at Dien Bien Phu (Lacquer painting) by Nguyen Sang

4. Artist Bui Xuan Phai (1920-1988)

This artist was also known as The Artist of Streets, one of the most famous artists of Vietnam in all time.

Education: The Indochina Fine Arts College of Painting

Awards: Ho Chi Minh Prize, National Fine Arts Exhibition Awards, Leipzig Graphic Award, etc.

Famous works: Pho co Ha Noi, Ha Noi khang chien, Xe bo trong pho co, Pho vang, Vo chong cheo, San khau cheo, etc.

Da River (Oil painting) by Bui Xuan Phai

O Quang Chuong (Oil on canvas) by Bui Xuan Phai

Hang Mam Street (Oil painting) by Bui Xuan Phai

Resistance in Hanoi (Oil painting) by Bui Xuan Phai

Other Vietnamese Famous Artists

5. Artist Pham Van Don (1918-2000)

Education: The Indochina Fine Arts College of Painting, XIII course

Awards: First-Class Labor Medal, First-class War of Resistance War against America, Official Award of the Intergrafik International Graphic Exhibition, etc.

Famous works: Buc tranh Bac Ho, Vua Quang Trung giai phong Thang Long, Du kich Canh Duong, etc.

King Quang Trung Liberated Thang Long (Woodcarving) by Pham Van Don

Uncle Ho by Pham Van Don

6. Artist Phan Ke An (1923-2018)

Awards: First prize at the National Fine Arts Exhibition, National Awards for Literature and Art, Third-class Independence Medal.

Famous works: Ho Chu tich o Viet Bac, Nho mot chieu Tay Bac, etc.

Miss An Afternoon in Tay Bac by Phan Ke An

7. Artist Nguyen Khang (1911-1989)

Nguyen Khang brought traditional lacquer painting into Vietnamese painting art. This makes him become one of the most famous artists in Vietnam.

Prize: Ho Chi Minh Prize

Famous works: Di cho, Goi dau duoi trang, Ve dep Muong, Phong canh mien nui, Ong nghe vinh quy, Bat da dem trang, Hoa binh va huu nghi, Hanh quan qua suoi, etc.

Friendship Peace (Lacquer painting) by Nguyen Khang

Marching Across The Steam (Lacquer painting) by Nguyen Khang

8. Artist To Ngoc Van (1906-1954)

Pseudonym: To Tu, Ai My

Awards: Honorary title of the 1931 Paris Colonial Exhibition, Honor at the Exhibition of the French Painters Association – Salon Paris in 1932, First Prize in the National Fine Arts Exhibition in 1954, etc.

Famous works: Thieu nu ben hoa sen, Thieu nu ben hoa hue, Hai thieu nu va em be, Thieu phu ngoi ben tranh tam da, Buoi trua, Ben hoa, etc.

Two Girls and A Boy (Oil on canvas) by To Ngoc Van; one of national treasures

Hanoi Rises (Woodcarving) by To Ngoc Van

Lady with Lily by To Ngoc Van

9. Artist Tran Van Can (1910-1994)

Tran Van Can is a famous artist and one of the top four artists of modern art in Vietnam: Nhat Tri, nhi Van, tam Lan, tu Can. He also edited the sketch pattern of Vietnam National Emblem into the complete form as it is today.

Famous works: Em Thuy, Nu dan quan vung bien, Chan dung bac tho lo, Thieu nu ao trang, Goi dau, Xuong dong, Tat nuoc dong chiem, etc.

Little Thuy (Oil on canvas) by Tran Van Can; one of national treasures

Woman Washing Hair by Tran Van Can

10. Artist Nguyen Do Cung (1912-1977)

Nguyen Do Cung was called: “A sharp steel nose, a pine tree soaring tops in the storm of artistic creation”.

Awards: Ho Chi Minh Prize, First-class Labor Medal, Third-class Resistance Medal, etc.

Famous works: Du kich La Hay tap ban, Lam kip luu dan, Bai ca Nam tien, Khai hoi, Hoc hoi lan nhau, Cong nhan co khi, Cong thanh Hue, etc.

After work, ladies please come to the meeting to test the skilled workers by Nguyen Do Cung

Learn from each other – Oil painting by Nguyen Do Cung

Guerrilla La Hai learning how to shoot by Nguyen Do Cung

11. Artist Nguyen Duc Nung (1914-1983)

Artistic style: He composed on many materials but typically lacquer paintings with traditional techniques. His lacquer works were main topics of revolution, resistance, and production.

Famous works: Quay to det vai, Binh minh tren nong trang, Nguyen Du di san, Mua mua tren cong truong, Ket nap Dang trong tu, etc.

Nguyen Du goes hunting (Lacquer painting) by Nguyen Duc Nung

Dawn at the farm (Lacquer painting) by Nguyen Duc Nung

Spinning (Lacquer painting) by Nguyen Duc Nung

12. Artist Nguyen Trong Hop (1918-1999)

This man is called “Master of Black & White Paintings”.

Awards: Second-class Labor Medal, First-Class War of Resistance War against America, Medal for Vietnamese Fine Arts career, Medal for the cause of Vietnamese Literature and Art, etc.

Famous works: Lop hoc mien nui, Va luot ben bo bien, etc.

Class on mountain (Woodcarving) by Nguyen Trong Hop

Mending nets at the beach (Woodcarving) by Nguyen Trong Hop

13. Artist Le Quoc Loc (1918-1987)

The artist blended traditional and modern features into lacquer paintings.

Awards: Second Prize in Painting Exhibition in 1951; National Art Exhibition Awards: First Prize in 1960, Second Prize in 1955, 1958 and 1962; etc.

Famous works: Qua ban cu, Giu lay hoa binh, Hoi chua, etc.

Passing old village (Lacquer painting) by Le Quoc Loc

Keep the peace (Lacquer painting) by Le Quoc Loc

14. Artist Nguyen Van Ty (1917 – 1992)

Nguyen Van Ty was the First General Secretary of Vietnam Fine Arts Association.

Awards: Gold medal at SEDEAI exhibition 1937, Medal for the career of Vietnam Fine Arts, For the cause of Vietnamese Literature and Arts, Ho Chi Minh Prize, etc.

Famous works: Hai Co Muong, Nha tranh goc mit, Du kich Bac Son, Thieu nu va bien, Nam Bac mot nha, Dem Noel Ha Noi, etc.

North South one home (Lacquer painting) by Nguyen Van Ty

Cottage under jackfruit’s root (Lacquer painting) by Nguyen Van Ty

15. Artist Tran Dinh Tho (1919-2010)

The State Prize Council for Literature and Arts commented: Artist Tran Dinh Tho has served professionally since the early days of the August Revolution, who contributed to the cause of fine arts training. His lacquer paintings belong to traditional style, reflecting his production activities, fights, and landscapes. Many of his Vietnamese paintings have achieved high artistic quality. He is one of the most famous artists in Vietnam.

Awards: State Prize for Literature and Art in 2001, First-class Resistance War Medal, 60-year-old Party Badge, Cultural Soldier Medal (Ministry of Culture and Information), etc.

Marching at night (Lacquer painting) by Tran Dinh Tho

The Bamboo by Tran Dinh Tho

Where to Admire or Buy Vietnamese Paintings?

In Hanoi

1. Apricot Gallery

Address: 40B, Hang Trong Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

2. Hanoi Doclab

Address: 56-58 Nguyen Thai Hoc Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi

3. CUC Gallery

Address: Room A4703, 47th Floor, Keangnam Hanoi Tower A, Duong Dinh Nghe Street, Tu Liem District, Hanoi

4. Nguyen Art Gallery

Address: 31A Van Mieu, Dong Da District, Hanoi

5. Green Palm Gallery

Address:

• Art Supply Store: 15 Trang Tien Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi
• Paintings Store: 39 Hang Gai Street, Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi

In Ho Chi Minh City

6. Galerie Quynh

Address: 2nd Floor, 151/3 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, HCMC

7. Sàn Art

Address: 48/7 Me Linh, Binh Thanh District, HCMC

8. The Factory Contemporary Art Center (FCAC)

Address: 15 Nguyen U Di Street, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, HCMC

9. Dia Projects

Address: 103 Dong Khoi Street, 2nd Floor, District 1, HCMC

10. HEPE Studio

Address: Thao Dien Pearl, 12 Quoc Huong, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, HCMC, Vietnam

Displaying 56 Artworks on the Vietnamese Army

Vietnam Fine Arts Museum introduced to the public 56 paintings, graphics, sculptures of soldiers’ themes through the exhibition “From the People”. This is an event to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army (December 22nd, 1944 – December 22nd, 2019) and the 30th anniversary of the National People’s National Defense Day (December 22nd, 1989 – December 22nd, 2019).

Borderlands security – Silk painting by Phan Ke An

Head to islands – Lacquer painting by Nguyen Van Ty

Memories of the lights by Le Anh Van, Former Principal of Vietnam Fine Arts University

Our people made us who we are – Lacquer painting by Quang Tho

Ship preservation – Oil painting by Colonel, Artist Bang Lam

Mr. Nguyen Anh Minh, Director of the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, said that the artists were present on the fronts to depict the life of the war, creating a period of Vietnamese art. “The exhibition is an opportunity for the public to learn more about the history of the Vietnamese People’s Army,” he said.

Tips for Buying Vietnamese Paintings

Online paintings auction

This will help customers those access many Vietnamese paintings that are suitable to the tastes and aesthetics of each person on their trip to Vietnam. This method of purchasing is no longer strange but is becoming increasingly popular and convenient, shortening the geographical distance between artists and buyers.

However, the drawback of online auctions is that collectors cannot see the real Vietnamese paintings, only through photos. Therefore, buyers should consider carefully before deciding on purchasing paintings online.

Some tips for buying paintings online:

• Do your research. Surf on some websites to select the most well-qualified works. Browse every single one of reputable painters to know their backgrounds, the auction party’s rules, etc.
• Choose the works that express yourself the most. That’s LAFS (love at first sight) and the decision making based on it is always right.
• Ask for a direct video call to see the painting for real.

Buying Vietnamese paintings at galleries, exhibitions or stores

• Choose well-known galleries, stores or exhibitions.
• Figure out what your tastes are.
• Are you buying what you love or what you think is great? If that’s what you love, congratulations on getting a great painting! If that’s just because you think the painting is amazing – you only need to make sure that it is a good fit for your house or room decoration, atmosphere, etc. That’s the next tip:
• Find your focal point at home.
• Set a budget – how much you can afford.

Read more:

• Vietnamese Paintings P1: History of Development, Types, Famous Paintings
• 15 Most Famous Temples in Vietnam