Le Pho

Le Pho is an important Vietnamese artist along with Vu Cao Dam. Born in 1902 son of Le Hoan, a senior mandarin, Le Pho received a comprehensive education, including training in brush training. At the age of 18 Le Pho went on to study at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts of Hanoi for five years. Afterwards for two years he then studied at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris. After completing his education, Le Pho returned to Vietnam to teach at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts for four years. Then in 1937 he returned to Paris as a delegate in the International Exposition there. He also served as a member of the jury of this exposition. During the thirties and forties, Le Pho travelled extensively in Europe and Asia. At this time Le Pho painted with long, thin brushes of watercolor on silk. His subjects, including birds, bamboo, and lotus flowers were traditionally Asian. His work was clearly influenced by Pierre Bonnard and Odilon Redon. For the rest of his career Le Pho was a notable artist, represented in many exhibitions and shows throughout Europe and the United States. Le Pho died in 2001. His works are in the permanent collections of Museum d’Art Moderne in Paris, the Vietnam Museum of Modern Art, and the Oklahoma Art Center.