Khue Nguyen is a Vietnamese born Australian artist based in Melbourne, and represented by Art Atrium Gallery. Khue’s locally and internationally exhibited work presents a continued examination of the human form. Khue also works on diaspora and identity issues.
Khue’s first body of work is an exploration of lyrical abstraction, the human body and its gestural communication through the medium of dance. Khue depicts the journey of human mind through the imagined landscape and human emotions. The work displays a curiosity about space and the interaction and awareness of human bodies through space. The focus of much of this body of work is the creation of dialogue and communication through dance, reflecting Khue’s love of music and dance.
Khue’s second body of work comprising works such as “Forty Acts of Remembering”, “Vietnam/Australia: Voicing the Unspoken” and “From a Home to a Home” explore the experiences of the Vietnamese diaspora and the identity issues faced by them.
Khue was a finalist in the Archibald Prize 2010, the Hutchins Art Prize 2013 and the Paul Guest Drawing Prize 2018. He was an invited artist in the Art, Life & Vision – 100 Excellent International Artists Exhibition in Malaysia in 2009. Since 1989-2020, he has won 16 prizes in Fine Arts and 9 prizes in Graphic Art. His show “Mapping Melbourne – Traces of Transformation” as part of Contemporary Asian Arts Festival 2013 at Melbourne Museum was highly acclaimed.
Visual Arts (Master), Monash University Australia, 2013.
Graphic Design (BA), Monash University Australia, 1993.
Fine Arts (AA), HCM City University of Fine Arts Vietnam, 1983.
Public Art Project
2018 - to date
• ‘Springvale Boulevard Project’ – Urban design development in Springvale.
In collaboration with HASSELL Architect. Commissioned by the Greater Dandenong
City Council.
2017
• Artwork for Shopfronts – ‘The Little SaiGon Project’ Footscray, Multi-level Building
Commissioned by the Maribyrnong City Council.
2016
• Artwork for the Welcome Arch – ‘The Little SaiGon Project’ Footscray
Commissioned by the Maribyrnong City Council.
2015
• Artwork for the Pavilion Building – ‘The Little SaiGon Project’ Footscray
Commissioned by the Maribyrnong City Council.
Achievement
2022
• Bluethumb Art Prize 2022: Finalist, Abstract Award.
2018
• Paul Guest Drawing Prize 2018: Finalist.
2017
• EMERGE – Culture Empowering Community: Appointed as Emerge Cultural Ambassador for City of Yarra.
2013
• Hutchins Art Prize 2013: Finalist.
2012
• Arc Yinnar Biennial Drawing Prize 2012: Finalist.
2011
• Heartlands Refugee Art Prize 2011: Finalist.
2010
• The Archibald Art Prize: Finalist.
• Waverley Arts Society (W.A.S.) Exhibition: Judge’s Award.
• Works on Paper Art Prize: Finalist.
2009
• W.A.S. Exhibition: Best Other Medium.
• Works on Paper Art Prize: Winner.
2007
• He Who Dreams Art Prize: Finalist.
1989-2011
11 prizes in Arts and 9 prizes in Graphic Design.
Grant
2020
• Body Language
Supported by Creative Victoria.
2015
• Forty Acts of Remembering Exhibition
In collaboration with My Le Thi and Minh Phan
Supported by City of Melbourne, Creative Victoria, Multicultural Arts Victoria, and
Victorian Multicultural Commission.
• Mapping Melbourne – Contemporary Asian Arts Festival
In collaboration with My Le Thi and Minh Phan
Supported by Multicultural Arts Victoria.
2013
• Mapping Melbourne – Contemporary Asian Arts Festival
Supported by Multicultural Arts Victoria.
2011
• Transfiguration Exhibition
Sponsored by Australian Consulate-General and Melbourne City Council.
Collection
2009
• 100 Excellent Artists Exhibition, Malaysia. Art International Penang 2009’s Collection
• Works on Paper Art Prize 2009 – Brunswick Street Gallery (BSG). BSG's Collection
Solo Exhibition
2011
• Transfiguration – HCM City University of Fine Arts, Vietnam.
• In Search of Sensuality – Art Atrium Gallery, Australia.
2006
• Headless – Rinaldi Gallery, Australia.
Selected Group Exhibition / Art Fair
2021
• The Overwintering Project: Westernport, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery (MPRG). Curated by Kate Gorringe-Smith.
2018
• Spiritus. Joint exhibition with Nguyen Thi Tam and Tran Thuy Linh, Vietnam.
2016
• From a Home to a Home, Brunswick Street Gallery. Curated by Kate Gorringe-Smith.
• Torn Away. In collaboration with the Human Rights Arts & Film Festival (HRAFF).
2014
• Vietnam/Australia: Voicing the Unspoken. In collaboration with the HRAFF.
• MidSumma Festival.
2013
• Perpetual Motion, Art Atrium Gallery. Joint exhibition with Douglas Cham.
• Snake Snake Snake – An Exhibition of Contemporary Asian Australian Artists.
2012
• The Agent Orange Justice Art.
2010
• Legend of The Lindsay’s.
• MidSumma Festival.
2009
• Art, Life & Vision – 100 Excellent Artists, Malaysia.
• Melbourne Art Fairs.
2008
• Melbourne Art Fairs.
• Figuration – Paintbox Fine Art Gallery, Canberra.
1989-2022
Participated in 27 other various group exhibitions, art shows and art competitions.
Publicity / Publication
2015
• Forty Acts of Remembering
Interview with
ABC Radio National – Books and Arts, 88.9FM
Vien Xu FM
SBS Channel 31 and VNTV
2014
• From Vietnam to Australia: Artists Voice the Unspoken
Interview with Australia Plus. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)
2012
• Artist Nguyen Huy Khue – Vietnamese Around the World
Interview with VT10 Television Channel, HCM City
• Artist Nguyen Huy Khue
Interview with The Gioi Van Hoa (Global Culture), HCM City
2011
• Nguyen Huy Khue – Figuration Now
Book Launch
• Nguyen Huy Khue – Transfiguration
Catalogue
• Nguyen Huy Khue – Transfiguration Exhibition
VBC Channel, HCM City
• Artist Nguyen Huy Khue: Right Time Right Place
Art & Life Magazine – Vietnamese Fine Arts Association. Issue 61, 11/2011
• Transfiguration
Art World Magazine. Issue 116, 11/2011
• Khue Nguyen – A NAKED STAR
diaCRITICS
2010
• Less Seen Art, Made by Vietnamese-Australian Artists
KUNAPIPI: Journal of Postcolonial Writing & Culture