Early on, my body of work began as an exploration of my artistic education in the West (United States) and my cultural upbringing in an Eastern household (Vietnam). My family would ask me to produce pieces that are much cheerier and that they believe are orthodox to their beliefs about what art is. The same people would see things like bone churches or vegetarian asceticism as not a part of their religion, even though they famously were. Delving into diverse practices, I came to learn their distinct theological and iconographic differences but also their distinct theological and iconographic similarities.

Mixing European painting with Asian iconography eventually transitioned into a spiritual and religious exploration of my creativity. If we, as intelligent creatures, are made in the image of God, and the creation of the universe is considered by Christians to be the single greatest act. It is my duty to do the same, as not doing so is an insult to the gift of duplicated intelligence. What is unknown and not commonplace is, in fact, what is truly common in the world. If someone asked me whether unicorns were secretly running in wild forests, I would respond with an irritated confirmation, even though I know such creatures were just second-hand stories about rhinos. When I look at illuminated manuscripts of human butts blowing through horns, I will say “oh what a wonderful creature deserving our praise”.

Every piece, even the still lives, is a world separate from our own reality but also a part of it, arranged to fit a narrative only known to me and the subject. As you gaze upon said subjects, you can see that the story is unfolding before you, literally. This reality, this process, is developing with the audience putting forth their own possibilities on the piece.

Bio:

Francisco Pham is an artist born to Vietnamese immigrants, raised in Baltimore, MD, and currently living in Brooklyn, NY. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) and is attending the New York Academy of Art for his Master’s degree.

Education:

  • 2027 (currently attending)

    • MFA in Painting, NYAA, New York, NY.

  • 2024

    • BFA in Painting, MICA, Baltimore, MD. 

Awards & Scholarships: 

  • 2025 - 2026

    • MFA Academy Scholar Award Scholarship

    • Will Cotton Scholarship

    • Dots x Circles Illustration Awards 2025 Longlist

    • 18th Art Renewal Center Salon Finalist

  • 2018 - 2023

    • Creative Vision Award

    • Presidential Scholarship

    • MICA Grant

    • MICA Recognition Award

  • 2018

    • Scholastics Honorable Mention - Asian Exploration

    • Scholastics Gold Key - In A Span of A Hundred Years

    • Scholastics Silver Key - Moving

    • Scholastics Honorable Mention - Exile From Modernism

    • Scholastics Honorable Mention - Nightmares

    • Scholastics Honorable Mention - Ox Head and Horse Face

    • Scholastics Honorable Mention - Pets

  • 2017

    • Scholastics Silver Key - Dining at the Mall

    • Scholastics Silver Key - The Span of Hundred Years of Human Existence 

Group Exhibitions:

  • 2026

    • Tribeca Ball 2026, New York Academy of Art, New York, NY. 

  • 2025

    • Spring Cleaning 2025, Good Company Art, Peabody Heights Brewery, Baltimore, MD. 

    • Mid-Autumn Fest 2025, Hana House, Brooklyn, NY.

    • Featured Artists October 2025, Meander Art Bar, Baltimore, MD.

  • 2024

    • Spring Cleaning 2024, Good Company Art, Peabody Heights Brewery, Baltimore, MD. 

    • Alumni Exhibition 2024, Carver Center Gallery, Carver Center for Arts and Technology, Towson, MD.

    • Asians in Maryland 2024, Asian Arts Gallery, Center for the Arts, Towson University, Towson, MD.

    • Asians in Maryland 2024 Satellite Exhibition, Fine Arts & Music Department, Enoch Pratt Free Library: Central Branch, Baltimore, MD.

    • The Cat’s Meow, Found Studio Shop, Baltimore, MD. 

    • Holiday Showcase 2024, Night Owl Gallery, Baltimore, MD.

  • 2023

    • Waking in The Blue, Fox 2 Gallery, MICA, Baltimore, MD.

    • Art Walk 2023, Fox 2 Gallery, MICA, Baltimore, MD.

    • Fire and Ice Art Exhibition, Adytum Collective, Beethoven Apartments, Baltimore, MD. 

    • Alumni Exhibition 2023, Carver Center Gallery, Carver Center for Arts and Technology, Towson, MD.

    • Home, Adytum Collective, Beethoven Apartments, Baltimore, MD.

    • Spirituality, Biafarin Artist Management, Gallerium Online Smart Exhibitions. 

  • 2022

    • Alumni Exhibition 2022, Carver Center Gallery, Carver Center for Arts and Technology, Towson, MD.

    • Second Thesis Defense Show, Lazarus 3 Gallery, MICA, Baltimore, MD.

    • Arrival, Lazarus 3 Gallery, MICA, Baltimore, MD. 

    • Preface, Lazarus 3 Gallery, MICA, Baltimore, MD.

    • Preview 13, Fox 3 Gallery, MICA, Baltimore, MD. 

  • 2021

    • Onward, Lazarus 2 Gallery, MICA, Baltimore, MD.

Solo Exhibitions: 

  • 2025

    • Hidden Gods, Gallery Blue Door, Baltimore, MD.

  • 2024

    • September Featured Artist, Night Owl Gallery, The Royal Blue, Baltimore, MD.

Commercial Work:

  • 2025

    • Sign Lettering, Red Velvet, From Lucie and Rothy’s Williamsburg

    • Coloring Page, This Magical World Program, the Joseph Herbst Big Band

    • Carnival Games, NYC Mid-Autumn Fest - “Knock ‘Em Down” and “Wr’angler Up”

    • Art City Blend, Dear Globe Coffee Roasters - Twelve Earthly Branches

    • T-Shirt, Dear Globe Coffee Roasters - Bakunawa And Minokawa

Publications:

  • 2026

    • Friends of Friends Zine - Volume 2 “Dissonance”