Christian Dinh
Christian Dinh is a Vietnamese-American ceramic artist from Orlando, Florida and recent graduate of Tulane University. While studying at UWF, Christian Dinh was nominated for the International Sculpture Center’s Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award. Dinh’s ceramic and sculptural work has been in numerous exhibitions throughout the Gulf Coast, including the exhibition PHILIC / PHOBIC at the Pensacola Museum of Art and And Now For Something New Vol. 2 at LeMieux Gallery in New Orleans, Louisiana. Christian Dinh’s most recent series Nail Salon redirects stigma and celebrates Vietnamese-American identity by confronting racism, stereotypes and underrepresentation. The work focuses on the Vietnamese culture that developed in the United States subsequent to the Vietnam War and the flourishing Vietnamese community established by refugees and immigrants throughout the country. Christian Dinh’s Nail Salon was exhibited as part of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art’s Focus Series in June 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Artist Statement
My current body of work centers on the experience of a first generation Asian-American. The work focuses on the Vietnamese culture that developed in the United States subsequent to the Vietnam War and the flourishing Vietnamese community established by refugees and immigrants throughout the country. The cultural way of life, traditions and beliefs of Vietnam have been brought over to America in fragments by the Vietnamese immigrants. The resilience of the Vietnamese people allowed them to adapt to their displacement and create a new culture with what was around them. This culture that the Vietnamese people established has shaped my experience as a first generation Asian-American. Through my artwork, I am bringing attention to the experiences, objects, places and values that are part of the identity of the Vietnamese-American people. My artwork redirects stigma and celebrates Vietnamese-American identity by confronting racism, stereotypes and underrepresentation.
Windgate Foundation was established in 1993 and is a private, family foundation based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Windgate’s goal is to advance contemporary craft and strengthen visual arts education in the United States. The foundation also supports children and youth in the State of Arkansas. windgatefoundation.org
