John Vo (Vietnamese-American, b. 1987) is interested in the stories and origins inherent in textiles. In their current work, part of the series This Souvenir Do’nt Forget, they use Vietnamese silk, chiffon, and Cone denim. Each has a connection to their family history and migration story, from Vietnam (silk)—which was once colonized by France (chiffon)—to the United States (denim). Vo sews these fabrics together to create the canvas upon which they paint imagery that explores memory, ownership, and inheritance.
Vo is an artist, teacher, and organizer based in Worcester. They co-founded the Nine Dot Gallery (2015-2019), a contemporary art gallery and community space in the Main South neighborhood. Among other achievements, Vo is the recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship, which allowed them to learn silk painting and woodblock printing in Vietnam. Vo is an alumnus of the College of the Holy Cross.
The Central Massachusetts Artist Initiative is supported by the Don and Mary Melville Contemporary Art Fund and John M. Nelson Fund.
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