Trained to be a traditional portraitist at the age of 10 in his native Vietnam, Cuong has always had a passion for drawing human faces. His paintings depend on the dramatic portrayal of light, shadow and environment to create their mood and sense of realism. He believes that a successful painting requires that he establish an emotional connection with his subject, so that the viewer in turn connects at an emotional level with his work.
Cuong has been invited to do teach around the globe, in places such as China, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Ireland, and Argentina. Cuong has won many awards for his paintings, including Prix de Pastel at the IAPS’s 2011 Master Circle Exhibition, Grand Prize Award 2010 Pastel Journal Magazine. Cuong is a Signature Member of the PSA, and Distinguished Pastelist of PSWC.
Education
* 1995-2000: San Jose State University, California - Illustration/Graphic Design
* 1987-1990: Academy of Art, Saigon, Vietnam
Teaching
* 2013-Present: Figure Drawing at The Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
* Pastel and Oil workshop at Cuong Nguyen Studio, Triton Museum of Art
* Workshop at Art in Rome Atelier, Rome, Italy
* Workshop at Flemish Classical Atelier, Bruges, Belgium
* Workshop at Ming Art Center, Suzhou, China
* Workshop at NUMU Atelier, California
Associations
* Oil Painter of American - Associate Member
* Pastel of American - PSA Master Pastelist
* Pastel Society of The West Coast - Distinguished Pastellist
* International Association of Pastel Societies- Master IAPS Circle
Gallery Representation
* Ming Gallery, Suzhou, China
* John Pence Gallery, San Francisco, California
Publications
* Artists & Illustrators Magazine (United Kingdom) - August and October, 2013
* American Art Collector Magazine - March and April, 2013
* Southwest Art Magazine - November, 2011
* Pastel Journal Magazine - April, 2011
* Wave Magazine (San Jose, California) - August 28, 2009
* Stir TV (San Francisco, CA) - Octorber, 2004
* Chanel 5, Evening Magazine (San Francisco) - June, 2004
* San Jose Mercury News - June 7, 2004
* Marin Independent Journal (San Rafael) June 10, 2004
* Viet Mercury (San Jose, CA) - May 23, 2003
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
* SOLITARY CONNECTIONS Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, California, August 10-November 5, 2017
* MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE Ming Gallery, Suzhou, China. August - September, 2016
* CURRENT WORKS by Cuong Nguyen John Pence Gallery, San Francisco. April 10 - May 2, 2015
* PAINTINGS & DRAWINGS by Cuong Nguyen John Pence Gallery, San Francisco. Sep 6-28th, 2013
* ASPECTS: Multiple Faces, Multiple Views Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, California, September 29 - November 11, 2012
* TWO APART Los Gatos Museum of Art, Los Gatos, California, March 16-April 24, 2012
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2015
* Pastel of Suzhou International Exhibition Suzhou Museum, China - October, 2015
* Pastel Society of America's 43rd Annual Exhibition The National Arts Club, New York, NY - September, 2015
* Pastel Society of The West Coast : 29th Paste USA Haggin Museum, Stockton - July 2 to September 13, 2015
* 50 and Looking Forward - Triton Musuem of Art, Santa Clara May 16-July 12, 2015
2014
* Drawings - John Pence Gallery, San Francisco - August 14 - Sept 27, 2014 Pastel Society of America's 42rd Annual Exhibition
* The National Arts Club, New York, NY - September, 2014 58th Haggin Museum Juried Exhibition - Stockton, CA. August, 2014
* Figures - John Pence Gallery, San Francisco - May 5 - June 28, 2014
* Still Life - John Pence Gallery, San Francisco - March 10 - April 26, 2014
2013
* Still Life - John Pence Gallery, San Francisco - April 19- May 11, 2013
* Figures - John Pence Gallery, San Francisco - March 22 - April 13, 2013
* Recent Arrivals - John Pence Gallery, San Francisco - February 22 - March 16, 2013
2011
* Oil Painter of America - Western Show Lee Youngman Gallery, Calistoga, CA, Octorber 8 - October 30, 2011
* International Guild of Realism - 6th Annual Exhibition Sage Creek Gallery, Santa Fe, NY, September 30 - October 22, 2011
* Pastel Society of America - 39th Annual Exhibition The National Arts Club, New York, NY - September, 2011
* Pastel Invitational Abend Gallery, Dever, Colorado - August 26 - September 24, 2011
* First Master Circle Exhibition - IAPS Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 2011
* Salon International 2011- Greenhouse Gallery Juried Exhibition - San Antonio, TX, April - April, 2011
2010
* International Association of Pastel Societies - Butler Museum The 16th Juried Exhibition - Youngstown, Ohio, July - August, 2010
* Pastel Society of the West Coast - Los Gatos Museum Group Exhibition - Los Gatos, CA, June - July, 2010
* 26th Annual Los Gatos Association - Los Gatos Museum The 26th Juried Exhibition - Los Gatos, CA, March - April, 2010
* Salon International 2010- Greenhouse Gallery Juried Exhibition - San Antonio, TX, April - May, 2010
* International Guild of Realism - J. Willott Gallery The 5th Juried Exhibition - Palm Desert, CA, February 8-26, 2010
* International Association of Pastel Societies The 15th Juried Exhibition - Brea, CA, Jan 2010- March 2010
2009
* Drawing and Print Competition - The Triton Museum of Art Juried Exhibition - Santa Clara, CA - Dec 2009 - March 2010
* International Association of Pastel Societies 14th Exhibition - The 2009 Web Show - September to November, 2009
* University Art Open Competition - San Jose, CA - September 12th - 30th, 2008
* Pastel Society of America: 37th Juried Show- National Arts Club - Grand Gallery Group exhibition - New York, NY - September 1st - 27th, 2009
* The Triton Museum - Pastel Society of the West Coast Santa Clara, CA - July 28- September 29, 2009
* Salon International - Greenhouse Gallery - San Antonio, TX - April 10-May 14, 2009
* Richeson School of Art and Gallery - Pastel Competition Kimberly, WI - Jan 6-March 6, 2009
2008
* 55th Hagging Museum Juried Exhibition - Stockton, CA. Sept 13 - October 30, 2008
* University Art Open Competition - San Jose, CA - September, 2008
* Haggin Museum - Pastel Society of the West Coast- Stockton, CA - May 28 - June 22, 2008
2006
* Twenty Nine Cafe - Los Gatos, CA - Group Exhibition - May 16 - June 18, 2006
2005
* Pastel Society of the West Coast - 19th Annual International Open Exhibition San Luis Obispo, CA
* "Live Worms" Gallery - San Francisco, CA - Octorber 20 - November 2, 2005.
2004
* Feature Artist - Italian Chalk Art - San Rafael , CA - June12-13, 2004
* Triton Museum of Art - Pastel Society of The West Coast Santa Clara, CA - March - May 22, 2004
* Women's City Club of Pasadena - Artist's Choice Exhibition Pasadena, CA - Nov 7 - April 17, 2004
2003
* Cafe RomaSF, CA - May 16 - July 1st, 2003
* Chablis Gallery - Juried Exhibition - Sierra Pastel Society Placerville, CA -Oct 18 - Nov 2, 2003
* Salt Box/Clubhouse Gallery - Juried Exhibition West Hartford, CT - Oct 18 - Nov 10, 2003 AWARDS
Awards
2015
1st Honorable Mention Portrait Society of America Members Only Competition
Mid American Society Pastel Award Pastel Society of America 43rd Annual Exhibition
Honorable Mention Pastel Journal Magazine Pastel 100 Competition 2015
2014
2nd Merit Award Portrait Society of America Members Only Competition
American Artists Professional League Award Pastel of America 42th Annual Exhibition
First Place in Oil Category Haggin Museum Competition Stockton, CA - August, 2014
Top 100 Finalists Still-life Category Art Renewal Center's International 2013/2014
2013
Best of Show Award Statewide Painting Competition Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
First Place Award Portrait & Figure Category Pastel 100 Competition 2013 Pastel Journal Magazine
Best of Show Award Pastel USA Pastel Society of The West Coast Ross, CA - June, 2013
Top 100 Finalists Figurative/Drawing Category Art Renewal Center's International 2011/2012
2012
Honorable Mention Award Haggin Museum Competition Stockton, CA -Sep, 2012
Top 100 Finalists Figurative Category Art Renewal Center's International 2011/2012
2011
Best of Show Award Statewide Painting Competition Triton Museum of Art, Santa Clara, CA
Third Prize Award Southwest Art Magazine 2011 Artistic Excellence Competition
President Award Pastel of America 39th Annual Exhibition
Honorable Mention Award Oil Painter of America Associate Online Showcase Exhibition
Chairman's Choice Award Top 100 Finalists- Figurative Category Art Renewal Center's International Competition 2010/2011
Prix de Pastel Award First Master Circle Exhibition 2011 International Association of Pastel Societies
South West Art Magazine Award of Excellence 2011 Salon International Greenhouse Gallery, San Antonio, TX
Grand Prize Award 12th Pastel 100 Competition The Pastel Journal Magazine April Issue, 2011
2010
Best of Show Award Haggin Museum Competition Stockton, CA -Sep, 2010
Gold Medal Award International Association of Pastel Societies Butler Museum - Youngstown, Ohio
Margot Schultze Award Pastel Society of The West Coast, Open Exhibition 24th Annual Show
Top 100 Finalists Figurative Category Art Renewal Center's International 2009/2010
Honorable Mention Still Life Category - The 26th Annual Los Gatos Art Association Los Gatos Musem of Art, CA
First Place Award Figurative Category - The 26th Annual Los Gatos Art Association Los Gatos Musem of Art, CA
Grand Prix Award International Association of Pastel Societies The 15th Juried Exhibiton
2009
Honorable Mention Award The Triton Museum of Art: Drawing and Print Competition
First Prize Drawing category Uninversity Art Open Competition
Robert & Patrica Suggs Award Pastel Society of the West Coast 22th Annual International Open Exhibition - Santa Clara, CA
Honor Award Richeson 75 - Pastel International Competition, Kimberly, WI
2008
First Prize Oil/Acrylic category Uninversity Art Open Competition
Iona Hepper 2nd Place Award for Pastel - Haggin Museum Exhibition Stockton, CA -Sep, 2008
Pastel Journal Award Pastel Society of the West Coast 21th Annual International Open Exhibition - Stockton, CA - June, 2008
2007
People's Choice Award Chalk Art Competition Santana Row San Jose - May, 2007
2005
Savoir Faire/Sennelier/Fabrino Award Pastel Society of the West Coast 19th Annual International Open Exhibition - San Luis Obispo, CA
=> Cuong Nguyen's workshops at Atelier Nadaï
Portrait in Pastel / Portrait in oil