Born in 1997, Vân Khánh is a painter currently based in her native city, Hanoi, Vietnam. She earned her Bachelor of Art in the USA and graduated magna cum laude in Studio Art and Art History. The topics that Vân concerns with are femininity, sexuality, reproductive traditions, coming of age, and social prejudices that weigh heavily on women in contemporary society. Using oil paint and pastel, she creates bold, colorful images to question the traditions that set people, especially women, in their daily momentum. Each painting features symbolism that tells a narrative—a puzzle—for viewers to decipher. She had participated in several two-person and group exhibitions in the USA and Hanoi. In Hanoi, her paintings have been displayed in Vincom Center for Contemporary Art, and currently available at Work Room Four and Chau & Co Gallery.

Since 2021, I have been creating a series of oil painting that blends figuration and surrealism to critically examine how Vietnamese women are confined to societal expectations. I am inspired by the uncensored sincerity of Vietnamese folk art, which reveals people's most immediate fears and desires. Therefore, I aim to use the visual language of my heritage to promote autonomy for women and challenge the constraints of traditions.

 I use recurring imagery of female body, children’s toys, and festive folk masks to symbolize how women’s identities are stripped away and instead celebrated for their objectified roles. I situate these elements within intimate settings such as market and spa to convey the tension between innocence and brutality. This contrast highlights how women must navigate the expectations of their gender while reclaiming their sense of self. Through self-portraits and symbolism, I trace the transition from girlhood to womanhood, exploring how women’s identities evolve within cultural context.

Through life painting, I observe how the energy from flesh and curvatures can suggest introspection. These sketches have taught me to portray the figure in a dramatic and surreal setting in larger paintings. I use complimentary hues to create a confrontational effect for my paintings. By tightly framing the bodies, I convey the suffocating pressure women experience in conforming to societal roles.

Ultimately, painting is my way to confront the entrapment and absurdity of womanhood in a sexist society. I hope my work validates women’s experiences and offers them solace as they pursue self-realization.