(b. 1982, Site II Refugee Camp, Thailand) Van Chhovorn was born in a refugee camp for Khmer Rouge genocide survivors in Thailand in 1982. Later, as a young man, he was enslaved on a fishing vessel in the Gulf of Thailand with 24 other Cambodian and Burmese men for more than two years. He luckily regained his freedom through much hardship and was able to study at a free non-profit art school, Phare Ponleu Selpak, in Battambang, Cambodia where he became a wood sculptor and painter. Important to his career is a recurring dream where an ancient “Dream Teacher” speaks to him and shows him what to do and which pieces of wood to select for his sculptures. He currently resides in Battambang with his family and is pursuing his art career with Open Studio Cambodia (Siem Reap). Selected Group Exhibitions & Awards Solo Exhibitions 2021 ”Odyssey I” Van Chhovorn, 282 Gallery, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Selected Group Exhibitions 2021 ASEM Cultural Festival 2021 - Asia & Europe: Cultures Connect, National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia “Hope on the Horizon,” Open Studio Cambodia, AIR Gallery, Factory Phnom Penh, powered by FT Gallery United Nations Human Rights Day Conference, invited teaching artist, exhibiting artist, Phare Ponleu Selpak, Battambang, Cambodia 2020 Group Exhibition of Cambodian Contemporary Art, Galerie Lee, Paris, France “Tomorrow is a New Day,” Open Studio Cambodia, AIR Gallery, Factory Phnom Penh, powered by FT Gallery “Romcheik 5 + Kampot 1 = 282,” Pi-Pet-Pi Art Gallery, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Arn-Chorn Pond Scholarship Grantee, Cambodia Living Arts, Phnom Penh, Cambodia United Nations Human Rights Day Conference, invited teaching artist, exhibiting artist, Phare Ponleu Selpak, Battambang, Cambodia 2019 Collected by the Romcheik 5 Countryside Museum for permanent display 2019 Battambang Art Festival, Battambang, Cambodia 2016 The Giant Puppet Project, Siem Reap, Cambodia 2012 “Tonle Mekong,” United States of America Embassy, Phnom Penh, Cambodia 2012 Sammaki Gallery, Battambang, Cambodia 2011 Romeat Gallery, Phnom Penh, Cambodia 2011 French Cultural Center, Phnom Penh, Cambodia Awards 2021 Bronze Prize Winner, White Canvas Art Competition, Social Compass 2020 Winner, Arn Chorn-Pond Living Arts Scholarship, Cambodian Living Arts