About the Artist
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. 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 of forging connections.
I'm Quyen Le, a Vietnamese-American artist working from my studio in Portland, Oregon. I create original paintings, fine art prints, greeting cards, and custom pet portraits that celebrate the deep connection between nature, animals, and the human spirit. Every piece I make is an invitation to slow down, to notice the patterns that connect all living things, and to feel the wonder that exists just beneath the surface of everyday life.
The Long Road Back
My path to becoming a full-time artist wasn't direct. After earning my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting from California State University, Long Beach, I continued my education with a Master of Arts in Art History, also from CSULB, and later a Master of International Public Policy Management from the University of Southern California.
For years, I stepped away from my studio practice to explore other avenues—working in policy, research, and international development. It was meaningful work, but something essential was missing. The magic I'd felt as a child watching my mother draw, the joy of bringing imagination to life—I realized I needed to return to that.
So I did.
Coming back to art after a long hiatus felt like coming home. I rekindled the wonder and curiosity that first captivated me, but now with the perspective and life experience I'd gained along the way. My time away from art actually enriched my practice. It taught me discipline, systems thinking, and how to see connections across seemingly separate domains—skills that now inform how I approach each painting.
Where Wilderness Meets Canvas
My artistic practice today is deeply informed by my experiences thru-hiking long trails and traveling slowly through natural places. Over the past several years, I've walked thousands of miles through the American Southwest, Pacific Northwest forests, and desert landscapes. I’ve walked the Arizona Trail through towering saguaro forests, where the desert hums with stillness and light. I’ve crossed vast desert plains that seem to stretch into infinity in California on the Pacific Crest Trail. I’ve hiked throughout Oregon and Washington, winding beneath ancient trees and endless sky.
The Art of Interconnection
In my artwork, I explore the intricate relationship between representation and abstraction, blending lifelike portrayals of animals, plants, landscapes, and people with biological symbols and circular patterns that represent the flow of qi—the life force that moves through all things.
Through this juxtaposition, I merge the organic with the scientific. I incorporate cellular and genetic imagery, DNA helixes, molecules, neurons, and other biological icons alongside detailed renderings to express our interconnectedness with one another and with nature. By weaving in elements from biology and energetic circles inspired by Eastern philosophy, my work invites viewers to reflect on the shared life force that exists beneath the surface of all living things.
What I discovered on the trail—and what shows up in every painting—is that patterns repeat at every scale. The roots of a Redwood tree mirror the branching of lightning, of rivers, of neural pathways. The spiral of a pine cone echoes the spiral of a galaxy, of DNA, of a snail's shell. These aren't metaphors; they're actual patterns that govern how life organizes itself.
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.
These journeys through vast, wild landscapes heightened my awareness of the fragile balance that sustains life and of the profound interconnectivity of all living beings. When you're covering 15-20 miles a day with everything you need on your back, you can't rush. You notice things. The cellular structure of a barrel cactus. The way hummingbirds work a patch of lupine. How light transforms pine needles from emerald to near-black as day becomes evening.
This deliberate, slow observation transformed not just what I paint, but how I see. My outdoor explorations deepened my desire to create artwork that embodies the wonder I encounter in wild places—and to share that wonder with others who may never have the opportunity or ability to experience these landscapes firsthand.
Space, Depth, and Contemplation
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 mindful presence and contemplation of the larger questions we face in an age of increasing complexity and distraction.
I believe we're all starving for slowness, for moments to simply be present with something beautiful. My paintings are portals to that experience—a way to access the feeling of standing in a saguaro forest at golden hour, or watching fog move through coastal Douglas firs, even from your living room.
A Spiritual View
My artistic philosophy is rooted in a pantheistic worldview—the understanding that the sacred exists within all of nature, that divinity is not separate from the physical world but woven throughout it. Every creature, every plant, every landscape carries the same spark of life force. There is no hierarchy, only interconnection.
This perspective shapes how I approach both my landscape work and my custom pet portraits. When I paint your beloved dog or cat, I'm not just capturing their physical appearance—I'm honoring the spirit within them, the unique energy and personality that makes them irreplaceable to you. Art, for me, is a language through which I express this reverence for all living things.
Who This Work Is For
My creations are for art lovers, nature enthusiasts, animal advocates, and anyone who finds joy and inspiration in our beautiful blue planet. They're for people who want their homes to reflect their values—connection, mindfulness, reverence for nature, and appreciation for handmade artistry.
They're for the hiker who wants to bring trail magic into their everyday space. For the pet parent who sees their companion as family and wants art that honors that bond. For the person seeking calm and contemplation in a chaotic world. For anyone who's ever stood in nature and felt something shift inside them.
Pacific Northwest Studio
I'm based in Portland, Oregon—a city surrounded by forests, mountains, and rivers that constantly feed my creative practice. While I don't currently have regular open studio hours, I occasionally host studio events and am happy to arrange private viewings for collectors in the area. Join my email list to be notified of studio events.
For questions about existing pieces, please reach out through my contact form. For Pet Portraits, please submit a request on my Pet Portrait Request form.
I respond to all inquiries within 24-48 hours.
Let's Connect
Thank you for being here and for supporting art. Whether you're a longtime collector or discovering my work for the first time, I'm grateful for your interest.
I'd love to hear from you—what draws you to nature-inspired art? Is there a landscape or animal that holds special meaning for you? Drop me a note through the contact page or connect with me on Instagram where I share studio updates, work-in-progress photos, and glimpses of the trails that inspire everything I create.
With heart and gratitude,
Quyen
