AVANT GARDEN: Wild(flowers) in the DMV(N)

Culture House proudly presents Wild(flowers) in the DMV(N), a large-scale outdoor mural by artist Thu Anh Nguyen.

Wildflowers represent our resilience, the way we can land anywhere, and flourish. Each flower painted here is from our local DMV: the swamp rose mallow of Washington D.C., the golden ragwort of Virginia, and Virginia bluebells. Additionally, the large, vibrant red flower is the Phoenix blossom, a significant flower from Vietnam.

Therefore, the flowers here are truly a representation of the artist Thu Anh Nguyen, a Vietnamese immigrant who has lived in the DMV for most of her life. This artwork hopes to honor all people who are transplants from other places. 

Artist Statement and Bio

One of the first places I lived where I felt a true sense of belonging was in the DMV. I took my young children on walks through Rock Creek Park and the Mall. I have seen these areas through all of their seasons: the Spring blooms, Summer proliferation, Fall foliage, and Winter dormancy. I know what the wild berries look like when the whole neighborhood goes out to pick them. It is an honor for me to paint a mural that reflects the natural abundance and diversity of the DMV area.

Thu Anh Nguyen is a Vietnamese Floridian whose parents did not settle in the United States until they found land (and humidity!) that could grow the same fruits as they did in Vietnam. Every story Thu tells as a poet, painter, and educator is in part that immigration story; therefore, Thu’s work centers around equity, justice, and community. In her most recent social practice art, Thu shapes poetry while listening to conversations about what makes a flourishing community. She also paints large-scale watercolors and is obsessed with flowers, their symbolism and beauty. She has painted hundreds of floral protest posters for social justice movements such as Black Lives Matter and Say Her Name.