Mai Tran
405 21st Ave S
Minneapolis,
MN
55455
Through traditional printmaking, I explore adaptation, coexistence, and communication across cultures, species, and environments. I use printmaking as a bridge between histories and places, opening space for alternative forms of belonging. My work unfolds visual narratives that linger on identity, displacement, transformation, and environmental injustice.
These narratives emerge within dreamlike worlds where Vietnamese motifs—lotus, watermelon, and café phin—surface alongside mythical animals and ancient Lý symbols to reference a heritage increasingly threatened by erasure. Living in the American Midwest has expanded my artistic expression by bringing regional imagery such as walleye, bobcats, and winter landscapes into dialogue with inherited forms. Invented hybrid food plants grow from this intersection, acting as metaphors for adaptation and the reclamation of identity on unfamiliar soil.
More recently, my research has turned toward endangered aquatic organisms impacted by human exploitation of water systems, leading to pollution and habitat loss. By entwining cultural memory with ecological fragility, I invite reflection on interdependence, responsibility, and environmental justice.
Educational Background
- MFA: Printmaking, University of Minnesota, 2026
- MA: Printmaking, Minnesota State University, 2023
- BFA: Printmaking and Photography, Minnesota State University, 2021
- BID: Interior, Exterior & Decorating, Hong Bang International University, 2012
Specialties
- Woodcut
- Etching
- Photography