Thailan When is a California painter, illustrator, collage artist and writer. Her work is richly expressive, utilizing vivid contrast and evocative imagery to enliven her metaphorical style of visual language and storytelling. She gathers her creative inspiration from nature, animals, dreams, emotions and cultural identity. Born in Thailand and raised in the Sierra Nevada foothills, she has showcased her art across the West Coast and New York, dividing her time between the Bay Area and LA.

​For commissions and opportunities CONTACT
or email [email protected]

Statement

​My approach to art is intuitive. I interpret my emotions as a form of raw creativity, and by listening, I am able to identify what feelings are asking for expression. Colors and images begin to flow and appear without restriction or any attempts to control. Eventually this leads to the organic development and refinement of concepts and visual stories that bridge the tangible to the ethereal, shaping the narrative of my art.

I enjoy exploring different mediums and styles-from painting and collage, to figurative and abstract, always curious to uncover the hidden messages and teachings within each new exploration. While working, I am often listening to music, singing, jotting down thoughts, and pausing to move and dance, allowing my creative process to expand and express itself freely. Over time, and with the necessary attunements, I have slowly learned to trust myself and the process. Having this trust has helped me to release judgment, and as a result, I am able to be more fully engaged in my practice.

I’ve been asked before, How do I know when something is finished? My belief is, if I’m able to develop a genuine connection to the work, while simultaneously deepening my relationship to myself, then the work can be considered done. Though arriving at a sense of completion is subjective and perhaps temporary, it has been essential for me to recognize when to let go, as the temptation of perfectionism can easily become the enemy of growth.

​Lately I’ve been thinking about how to live my life as a work of art. To me, this doesn’t mean striving to live a beautiful life, but a dynamic one that can balance the inevitable light and dark found in every striking composition.
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Shows/Projects
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-Seeds of the Wild, group show,
The Puffin Gallery, New York, NY, 2008
-Portraits, group show,
Theatre for the New City, New York, NY, 2008
-GLAAD Out auction, group show,
Metropolitan Pavilion, New York, NY, 2008
-Rebar, group show, Brooklyn, NY, 2008
-Carib Gallery, group show, New York, NY, 2008
-Backyart, group show, Brooklyn, NY, 2008
-Apature (Kearny Street workshop), group show,
Goforaloop Gallery, SF, 2009
-It's Better Than a Lump of Coal, group show,
Compound Gallery, Oakland, CA, 2010
-Spring Garden, group show,
Artist Xchange, San Francisco, CA, 2010
-Paint by Numbers, group show,
We Art Space, Oakland, CA, 2010
-Berkeley Fiction Review, Issue 30/31, 2010/2011
-Youtopia, group show, Famous Four Colors, Oakland, CA, 2011
-Art and Flea, Fresh Cafe, Honolulu, HI, 2012
-Mish Mash vintage, window installation, Honolulu, HI, 2012
-Breaking Illusion, solo show, Singlewide, Oakland, CA, 2013
-Facing Race conference, group show,
Hilton Anatole, Dallas, TX, 2014
-Joan Mitchell Art Scholarship recipient, 2014
-The Guardians, Streets Alive public art program,
Oakland, CA, 2014
-Dream in Color, group show,
​Prince Gallery, Petaluma, CA, 2015
-Santa Barbara Earth Day festival, poster design, 2015
-What Comes back, solo show, Resurrect, Oakland, CA, 2015
-We Should All, group show, Maryweather, Oakland, CA, 2016
-Underfoot, group show, Dimond Mine, Oakland, CA, 2016
-There Was Once Nothing, Now There Is Something, solo show,
Naming Gallery, Oakland, CA, 2016
-Oxtail Gallery, Berkeley, CA, 2017
-Real Vaginas, Naming Gallery, Oakland, CA, 2017
-Divided We Fall, mural,
Luckyduck Bicycle Cafe, Oakland, CA, 2017
-The Small Art Show, Warehouse 416, Oakland, CA, 2017
-Mascot design, Basis Independent, Brooklyn, NY, 2017
-First Street Napa, mural, Napa, CA, 2018
-Arrangements of Power, mural, Wild Child, Oakland, CA, 2018
-Kaaboo festival, group show, San Diego, CA, 2018
-Tea Collection, featured artist, San Francisco, CA, 2019
-Desigual design collaboration, 2019
​-Magical Storyboard, Wonderful Idea Company, 2020
-Mothers & Daughters, Backbone zine, 2021
​-Hella Feminist (Backbone zine), Oakland Museum, CA, 2022
​-Crucible, The Berkeley Alembic, Berkeley, CA, 2023
-The Thunder, Perfect Mind, The Berkeley Alembic, Berkeley, CA 2023