Contours of Becoming

In celebration of Women’s Month, Lena Cam Thanh reflects on her own journey of growth and transformation. 

Words Art+ Magazine Team
March 28, 2026

In Contours, Lena Cam Thanh explores Southeast Asian womanhood through themes of transformation, identity, and lived experience—a quiet yet powerful expression of women’s empowerment. The exhibition traces her personal journey, featuring works created from 2022 to the present, and reflects her growth as a wife, mother, and artist.

Discipline of Grace, 2025, 24 x 36 inches, mixed media on canvas

Drawing from memories of her childhood in Vietnam, as well as encounters with Vietnamese highland children during visits to orphanages with her church, Lena weaves a personal narrative of home and heritage. Her paintings—featuring metaphors such as a butterfly, a graceful ballerina, and a pink tiger—symbolize the strength and resilience of women.

Carried Through Seasons, 2022, 48 x 60 inches, acrylic on canvas

“The pink tiger is for the women who carry everything,” Lena shares. “You carry your family, your children, your husband, your parents. But you must also be strong and brave enough to carry your own dream.”

The Woman Who Carry Everything, 2025, 20 x 30 inches, mixed media on canvas

A self-taught artist, Lena believes that technique serves as a foundation for expressing emotions stemming from lived experience and observation. With Contours, unveiled in celebration of Women’s Month, she offers a message of self-discovery: “Some women learn at a young age, and others learn when they finally meet themselves again—to have the courage to be your true self.”

Born Carrying, 2026, 36 x 48 inches, oil on canvas

Contours is on view at the Lobby Lounge of Quest Plus Conference Center, Manila until March 31, 2026. Quest Plus Conference Center, Manila is located at the Entrata Urban Complex, 2609 Civic Drive, Muntinlupa City.