Nhut Vo was born in Vietnam and arrived in the US at the age of 9.

Adapting to the new country was a struggle for him, and as an introvert, he preferred to keep to himself. The hermitage that Nhut experienced made him stray from his external surroundings, causing him to struggle with school, his personal home life, and his inner child. His need for validation and acceptance caused him to venture into a new world of new friends dictated by violent and angry behavior. A decree of rebellious acts became a form of expression for Nhut. As a result, he was sentenced to life at age 19 for his involvement in a crime.

 

Nhut started his term in a maximum security prison that didn’t allow drawing supplies, so he learned to draw with a pen. Working with a pen is highly challenging, Nhut explains, as you have to “barely allow that ball pen to touch the paper” to shade with a very light tone. Nhut spent years developing his technique, becoming skilled in the delicacy and precision required for the difficult medium (Berliner, 2021).

 

As life imitates art, this experience led Nhut to create art. His form of expression was delved into his sketches and paintings that were developed in prison. He continues evolving and experimenting with art in his newfound freedom.