Nguyen Thu Huyen makes her mark in the field of fabric painting. She also participates in writing books and teaching art. (Photo: Vietnam+) Hanoi (VNA) -
As Tet nears, the vibrant chatter and laughter of children fill artist Nguyen Thu Huyen's "House of Art." Her eager students are busy coloring, drawing, and decorating Ao Dais to wear for the holiday.
Nguyen Thu Huyen has established herself as a prominent figure in the realm of fabric mosaics. Beyond her personal creations, she dedicates herself to teaching and authoring books on fine art. For Huyen, crafting fabric mosaics is not just a passion but also a medium through which she shares her profound love for art with the world.
In 2006, she began posting her work on a personal blog and received widespread support and attention. Since then, Huyen has nurtured her passion, which led her to create more sophisticated works of art.
Huyen's students participate in an Ao Dai painting workshop. (Photo: Vietnam+) "Vietnamese Beauty," Huyen's inaugural artwork was created over six months in collaboration with a university friend who shared her fascination with the traditional attire of Vietnam's 54 ethnic groups. It is now on display at the Vietnam Women's Museum.
Aware that she was not alone in the field of fabric art, Huyen set out to forge her own path, making certain that her artwork carried her unique signature.
Huyen chooses diverse materials for her artwork, including denim, khaki, cotton, chiffon, and silk, instead of limiting herself to a single fabric type.
Huyen opts for a variety of materials for her creations, including denim, khaki, cotton, chiffon, and silk, rather than confining herself to just one type of fabric. (Photo: Vietnam+) The themes in Huyen’s fabric paintings often lean towards depictions of women: maternal love, the resilience of ethnic minority women, and the beauty of the ancient women of Hanoi.
In 2018, to celebrate a decade of creating art and fashion, Thu Huyen hosted the "Painting My Dreams" exhibition. For her, achieving success in fabric painting is akin to realizing a dream.
Nguyen Thu Huyen has spent many years researching and experimenting with fabric painting. (Photo: Vietnam+) Art critic Nguyen Hai Yen offers a unique perspective on Nguyen Thu Huyen's work, highlighting a common misconception about fabric mosaics. Many view them as merely assembling scraps of fabric into shapes, arranged logically with colors and patterns. However, Huyen's approach is distinct. She crafts her own unique designs on each block of color, employing stitching, weaving, and pleating to create patterns that are unmistakably hers.
In 2014, the House of Art was established, marking a significant milestone for Thu Huyen.
She offers painting classes for students of all ages, from children to students, teachers, and even retirees, fostering a love for art across generations.
Initially, through teaching Huyen only wanted to spread the message of art. But the teaching evoked deep emotions and experiences. She said her teaching has resulted in a myriad of inspiration from her students.
Nguyen Thu Huyen draws strong inspiration from her students. (Photo: Vietnam+) 
Books are written by Nguyen Thu Huyen. (Photo: Vietnam+) Born in the Year of the Dragon, Thu Huyen marks this milestone year by unveiling a book that delves into the traditional costumes of various countries worldwide. Anticipated to be her most ambitious project to date, Huyen intricately illustrates traditional attire from 40 nations and curates content that showcases their cultural heritage.
A collection of fabric collage artworks by artist Nguyen Thu Huyen.
