Pop-Up Exhibition: America the Beautiful

Journey through the incredible life and inspiring art of Anh-Van Truong. Born in Vietnam in 1952, Anh-Van survived unimaginable hardships–escaping her homeland after the 1975 Communist takeover, enduring multiple failed escape attempts, and finally making it to freedom on a boat with only a 3% chance of survival. After a year-and-a-half in a refugee camp in the Philippines, where she served as an interpreter with the United Nations, Anh-Van resettled in Canada, and then made the U.S. her permanent home in 1983. A scholar of French literature and a lifelong lover of painting, she went on to work with international embassies and raise three children–all while honoring her heritage and embracing her new homeland.

Now, as she battles stage 4 Gastric Cancer, Anh-Van returns to her first passion–art–with her exhibition, America the Beautiful. This heartfelt collection celebrates the spirit of every U.S. state and the people who make this country home. Through each brushstroke, Anh-Van shares her gratitude, resilience, and love for the nation that gave her a second chance. “Be grateful,” she says, “every day, no matter what you face.”