Sopheap Pich

Pich grew up under the harsh and tragic Khmer Rouge regime. From 1979 his family stayed in refugee camps for five years to escape from political instability. During that time Pich participated in an art school run by NGOs and became interested in painting. His family was able to migrate to the United States and in 1990 he entered the University of Massachusetts to study medicine, later transferring to the Department of Art. Subsequently he received an MFA in painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1999. After struggling with how to express his ideas as a painter, he returned to Cambodia in 2002.
Engaging in a practice that serves to express a heartfelt respect and passion for handcrafts and materials rooted in Cambodia through sophisticated contemporary structures, he has presented works internationally, holding numerous solo shows and taking part in prominent exhibitions throughout the world. Pich is rcurrently ecognized as one of the leading Cambodian artists active within the contemporary art scene.