About Anna Joy Pham

Anna Joy Pham is a visual artist that focuses on painting and illustration. She has her BFA in Visual Communications from the University of Texas at Arlington and worked in the graphic design industry before becoming an artist and high school art educator.  Pham has shown her work in galleries around DFW including 400H Gallery, 500X, and the Fort Worth Art Fair. Pham was selected as a Carter Community Artist with the Amon Carter Museum of American Art in 2024. Pham currently resides and works in Fort Worth, Texas.

Artist Statement

My artwork is a personal exploration of forging new paths, carving my own way, and rejecting societal expectations. Through my paintings, I express these themes by drawing on my identity as a first generation Vietnamese American, my journey through divorce and motherhood, and my religious upbringing. These experiences are intertwined with grief and joy, as well as the constant swirl of overthinking, as I navigate the space between reality, imagination, and the metaphysical, creating a magical realism quality to the art.

In my work, I mesh multiple personas in figures, refusing to be confined to any singular identity. Time and space coexist in a fluid, non-linear way—because the past and future are inseparable from the present, all shaping one another. The imagery in my paintings blends self-portraits with familial figures, whimsical landscapes and creatures, nostalgic objects, bold colors, and sacred geometric symbols. These elements reflect my ongoing process of self-reflection and my search for understanding in the interconnectedness of life.

Life, to me, is a wild frontier—one I am navigating with vulnerability, stopping along the way to document my steps. Through this process, I invite the viewer to share in the journey, to feel seen and understood, and to know that, in this shared human experience, they are not alone.

Email: annjoypham@gmail.com
IG: @annajoyjoyyy

CV

Education & Certifications

Texas Educator Certified
K-12 Art Education

BFA in Visual Communications
University of Texas in Arlington
2009-2013 

Work Experience

Art Teacher
Trimble Tech High School
Art 1 & 2 and National Arts Honor Society Sponsor
2022-Present

Residencies

Carter Community Artist Residency
The Amon Carter Museum of American Art
January 2024 - December 2024

Art Tooth Studio Artist Residency
Fort Worth, TX
December 2023 - December 2024

Exhibitions

DAAART STOP
Curated by the DAAART Club
Annual Cedars Union Studios Tour
Dallas, TX
November 2024

Fall Gallery Night
Spider Lily Studios
Fort Worth, TX
September 2024

Third Thursday Artist Crawl
Featured Artist at The Coupe
Fort Worth, TX
July 2024

4th Annual Oak Cliff Assembly Art Walk
Dallas, TX
July 2024

Fort Worth Art Fair
Locals Only Show
Sundance Square, Fort Worth, TX
April 2024

Love Thy Neighbor Show
500x Gallery
Dallas, TX
February 17 - March 2, 2024

Small Works Show
400H Gallery
Fort Worth, TX
November 2023 - January 2024

3rd Annual Oak Cliff Assembly Art Walk
Dallas, TX
September 2023

TAC 17th Annual Juried Show
Arts Fort Worth in Fort Worth, TX
August 2023

Mayfest Established Artist Show
Fort Worth, TX
May 2023

5th Annual Small Works Show
Arts Fort Worth in Fort Worth, TX
October 2022

Publications/Press

76107 Magazine
Cover and Featured Artist
September - October 2024

One To Know Magazine
Illustrated Cover Design and Featured Artist Article
March 2023

Pregnancy and Newborn Magazine
Product Feature
2013

Awards

2014 Addy Awards
Gold Award Winner for Brand Collateral
Silver Award Winner for Structural Design