Le Hien Minh, born in Hanoi and raised in Saigon, Vietnam, blends socio-historical and mystical themes with pressing societal challenges to ignite meaningful dialogues about the human-made systems that govern our world. A distinctive material in her work is traditional Vietnamese handmade Dó paper, which she has used for over two decades. By reimagining Dó paper in contemporary ways—a defining feature of her practice—she honors its history and preserves cultural traditions while bridging past and present, offering a new perspective on its future.
Central to Le Hien Minh’s current work is the female experience, through which she maps the intricate interconnections of myriad socio-historical and cultural forces that shape modern life. Her contemplative yet provocative art weaves mystical and spiritual elements with metaphysical and surrealistic concepts, encouraging reflection on the dynamic interplay between the tangible and intangible, as well as the visible and invisible systems that influence and govern our lives. She aspires to create experiences that invite viewers to ponder the fluid relationship between actuality and potentiality—between what is and what could be.
Since 2003, Le Hien Minh has participated in numerous national and international exhibitions. Highlights include shows at the Vietnam National Museum of Fine Arts in Hanoi, Sculpture Expanded by the Association of Finnish Sculptors in Finland, the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan, and the Hyde Park Art Center in Chicago. Her work has been reviewed in publications such as The Brooklyn Rail, ArtAsiaPacific, Ocular Magazine, Art & Market, and the Chicago Reader, among others. She has received multiple grants and fellowships, including those from the Finnish Cultural Foundation, the Asian Cultural Council, the Goethe-Institut, the University of Illinois Chicago, and the 3Arts Ignite Fund Chicago.
Le Hien Minh has also lectured at multiple public institutions, including the San Jose Museum of Art, the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her book “Còn Lại | Rời Rạc” was acquired by the Joan Flasch Artist’s Book Collection, which is one of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago's special collections, and the Asian Art Archive in America.