Artist Statement
Art has always felt like pure magic to me, the imagination coming to life! One of my earliest memories is watching my mother, with no formal training, draw the silhouette of a woman’s face. As I watched her transform simple lines into a complete figure, I was mesmerized—and I knew then that I wanted to create that same sense of wonder. Since that moment, art has been my way of making sense of the world, of exploring deep curiosities and forging connections.
My work today is deeply informed by my experiences of thru-hiking long trails and slow travel in natural places, where I have had the time to observe, reflect, and engage with the world on a more intimate level. These journeys through vast, wild landscapes have heightened my awareness of the fragile balance that sustains life and of the interconnectivity of all life forms. My explorations have deepened my desire to create work that embodies the wonder I see around me.
In my artwork, I explore the intricate relationship between representation and abstraction, blending lifelike portrayals of animals, plants, landscapes or people with biological symbols and circular patterns that represent the flow of qi. Through this juxtaposition I merge the organic with the scientific, incorporating cellular and genetic imagery and abstract swirls alongside detailed renderings to express our interconnectedness with one another and with nature. By weaving in elements like DNA, molecules, neurons, and other biological icons with energetic circles, my work invites the viewer to reflect on the shared life force that exists beneath the surface of all living things. My work is both a broader meditation on our collective responsibility to the natural world and a personal reflection on the ties that bind us to all life forms.
Additionally, themes of space and depth run through my practice. By layering abstract symbols over representational subjects, I create tension between shallow and deep spaces, inviting viewers to look slowly and reflect. Each piece offers a meditative pause, encouraging a mindful presence and contemplation of the larger questions we face in an age of increasing complexity and distraction.
Through my work, I aim to spark a sense of wonder—just as I felt that first time watching my mother draw—and to encourage a deeper connection to the world around us. The magic of form and space is a way to pull the viewer in, to engage them in the conversation about what it means to be alive, to be interconnected, and to be responsible stewards of the world we share.
Bio
Quyen Le is a Vietnamese-American artist based in Portland, Oregon. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting from the College of the Arts at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), as well as a Master of Arts in Art History from CSULB and a Master of International Public Policy Management from the University of Southern California (USC).
Though she initially took a hiatus from her art practice to explore other avenues, Quyen has recently returned to the creative process, rekindling the magic and wonder of art-making that first captivated her as a child.