Laura (Yi Zhen) Chen

Misty Morning in Vietnam, Original Painting

2025

Artist Comments
A soft mist drapes over the narrow streets of a traditional Vietnamese town, muting the colors of weathered buildings with faded shutters and moss-covered tiles. The air is thick with the scent of pho as locals gather around steaming food stalls. Street vendors, clad in conical hats, weave through the crowd with bamboo poles balanced across their shoulders, carrying baskets brimming with ripe fruit.

About the Artist
Laura begins the painting process by taking multiple photographs, which she then combines and sketches into one composition. She takes a spontaneous approach to color, and often finds that her final paintings are quite different than her original intentions. As such, her color palette is vibrant and at times unexpected. Laura’s artwork is executed with stylized modernism, featuring heavy outlines and dramatic shadows. Much of her subject matter is architectural. “I especially like historical buildings in my area,” says Laura. “I am fascinated by the geometric shapes of the old buildings, their varieties and repetitions, their dramatic color contrast. To me, their simple structures have personality and dignity.” Laura works best when her studio is clean and well organized, and finds inspiration in the “miles of good paintings” hanging in the world’s great museums.

Words that describe this painting: Vietnam, Asia, vendors, vibrant, street, exterior, building, facade, crowd, colorful, vacation, holiday, road, sidewalk, architecture, expressionism, travel, acrylic painting, yellow

Misty Morning in Vietnam
Laura (Yi Zhen) Chen
Acrylic painting on stretched linen
Finished white edges
Ready to hang
One-of-a-kind
Signed on front
2025
24 in. h x 18 in. w x 1.5 in. d
0 lbs. 12 oz.