Vongduane Manivong is a Laotian American painter popular for her depictions of the daily lives of Laotians around the world, in addition to her figurative work.

As part of the first generation of Laotian American artists, she exhibits widely across the US including the Midwest, California, Rhode Island, and her home state of Texas.  Her style evolves dramatically and she is regularly commissioned for private portraits reflecting both the subject and her distinctive approach to art.

Her first memories are of her desire to practice art. For Vongduane, it was cathartic: a way to express her emotions and how she looked at the world.  To her, art is a loyal companion through rough times, and the strongest ambassador for her passions.

Vongduane was a featured artist at the Five Senses Show in Minneapolis, MN, a historic exhibition of contemporary Laotian and Hmong art. There, she was exhibited with the work of Thep Thavonsouk, Malichansouk Koaunchao, Yeng Lor, and other prominent artists who are among the first to document their community through the visual arts.  

For many Laotian Americans, their journey has not always been easy. Vongduane found significant support from the arts.  Throughout a difficult childhood, she focused on art to illuminate the positive things in life. That focus allowed her to enjoy success personally and professionally among her peers today.

Vongduane exhibited nationally at many special events including the IACC 5th Annual International Art Show in New York, the Symposium of Lao History at the University of California-Berkley, the National Youth Leadership Council’s National Urban Institute, the Re:Generations Exhibit at the Institute for Health and Healing, and the Cultural Heritage Exhibition at the Laotian Community Center of Rhode Island. She enjoys being a part of these exhibits to bring attention to the great diversity of the Laotian experience around the world.

Today, Vongduane's idea of success is to capture what inspires her and share it with others. 

Vongduane focuses on finding the essence of who she is in relation to the world and being comfortable in her creative results. To her, real success is not monetary, but accomplishing what she has set out to do; it is feeling inspired by inspiring others.

Vongduane is working on her next paintings and several personal projects including efforts to develop an engaging, expressive Laotian American visual vocabulary for the next century.

Although she considers herself a strong individual, she also sees herself as a reflection of her generation. She looks respectfully to the past for guidance, yet embarks towards the future with her own avant garde voice.

Vongduane is candid about the changes to her style and the journey of the artist.

Over the years, her work has gone from being very tight and realistic to a looser, painter style. Vongduane wants to depict the rising spirit in all people that takes flight and transported to higher levels of awareness. She experiments with an amazing array of color palettes and different materials and techniques to achieve this style.

Vongduane's artistic approach reflects many of the classic strengths of Laotian artists but also possesses a unique energy and vision clearly her own. She is meticulous and demanding about her art and approaches each piece with intense determination.

A close examination of her work reveals a dizzying variety of influences, from popular culture and classical art to many unexpected sources. She is inspired daily by the world around her. Contrasts of dark and light make pieces of art exciting to Vongduane. Emotions are also a key part of her process. She paints more what she feels than what she sees. She wants to create that overall mood to truly capture particular moments in time.

For Vongduane, nothing is a given; dedication to her art is of utmost importance. She also believes one's attitude determines their life's path; the energy or karma that you represent in your life will be drawn into your life in evermore abundant quantities. 

She wishes to continue to spend her life pursuing the perfection of her art, a journey certain to bring continued success.

The World of Vongduane
                     Why her art matters today.
                                       By Bryan Thao Worra - MN

"Vongduane's art is critical to an understanding of how the first generation of post-war Laotians confronted the brutal conflicts of Southeast Asia. No study of Southeast Asian American Art History would be complete without seeing her work."

" Vongduane was one of the first who had to address the survival of Laotian traditional art as well as exposure to the art traditions not only of American but emerging innovations from around the world due to globalization and technology making these ideas and techniques more readily available."

" Her work has appeared across the country, inspiring and intriguing her audiences. Whether they loved it or hated it, they had to respond to it."

" Vongduane's work captures a community in transition and the struggle between the search for individuality and the collective."

"Vongduane's art has been presented to educators, politicians and diplomats around the US."

"It has been displayed in galleries and private collections and the demand is growing."

"Vongduane has a mystique about her-so much of what she has to say is said through her art, what appears on canvas, rather than through her mouth."

"But her work is a great conversation when you take the time to listen to it."