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T h é p T h a v o n s o u k
Born in Vientiane, Thép grew up in French occupied Laos. He was educated in French at the Lycée de Vientiane in Laos and was exposed to French painting, literature and classical music at a very young age. Marc Leguay was his memorial teacher from his early school days and has influenced him greatly. Monsieur Leguay was himself an artist, highly revered in Laos. He portrayed Lao life on canvas in the style of the times, and under his tutelage Thép came to know the Impressionist painters.
Thép obtained the Baccalauréat from the Lycée de Vientiane and looked across the Pacific for higher education. He left Laos in 1967 when he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York where he studied and earned a degree in Diplomacy with a minor in Art. Following his graduation and armed with eight languages, Thép aspired to become a diplomat for Laos and later to work with the United Nations.
Shortly after graduating, he returned to Laos and obtained a position in a field he believed was along his chosen career path.
In 1972, three years before the end of the Vietnam War, Thép emigrated to Canada. He settled in Lethbridge, Alberta where he taught French at the University and English as a Second Language to new Canadians to help them assimilate into the new life they have chosen. During these experiences there was still something missing from Thép's life - what he really wanted to do was paint.
Thép’s works are represented globally by various galleries. His paintings are in corporate and private collections in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia as well as in the permanent collection of the Glenbow Museum, Canada and the Singapore Museum, Singapore. In Oct 2007, Thép was a guest on the French–Canadian CBC television for an interview on his inspiration and his paintings.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2007
The Avens Gallery, Canmore, Alberta, Canada
2006
Saaifone Contemporary Gallery, Laos
Axis Contemporary Gallery, Canada
Glenbow Museum, Canada
The Alliance Francaise, Canada
2005
Phou Vao Pansea, Laos
Glenbow Museum, Canada
Francis Engelmann Gallery, Laos
2004
Newsom Delorme, Bragg Creek, Alberta
2003
"A Fleeting Passage of Quiet Moments", Settha Palace, Vientiane, Laos
Novotel Hotel, Vientiane, Laos
2002
"Monks in June Rain", Bhuran Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
2001
"Nostalgia", Ecole des Beaux Arts, Vientiane, Laos
2000
"Impressions of a Monsoon Country", Artfolio Gallery, Raffles Hotel, Singapore
Guest of Honour: Her Excellency Ms. Doreen Steidle,
Canadian High Commissioner to Singapore
1999
"A Canadian Context", Artfolio Gallery, Raffles Hotel, Singapore
1998
Masters Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
1997
Pleasure of Living Gallery, Bangkok, Thailand
1995
Royal Riverside Garden Marriott Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
Guest of Honor: His Excellency, Mr. von Nostitz,
Canadian Ambassador to Thailand
1994
Sojourn Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
1993
Kobayashi Gallery, Tokyo, Japan
1992
Villa de la Rosa, Vientiane, Laos
1991
Skyline Plaza Hotel, Calgary, Alberta
Guest of Honor: Mary Dover
1990
"A Touch of Ginger", Calgary, Alberta
1988
The Stephen Lowe Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
The Bowman Arts Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta
1987
The Sterkman Jones Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
1986
The Honolulu Academy of Contemporary Arts Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii
1985
The French Institute of Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
1984
The Hiraya Gallery, Honolulu, Hawaii
1983
The Lahaina Arts Society, Maui, Hawaii
1982
The A.R.T Beasley Gallery, San Diego, California
1981
The Bowman Arts Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta
1979
The Bowman Arts Centre, Lethbridge, Alberta
1978-80
The Lethbridge Theatre Gallery, Lethbridge, Alberta
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