Artist Bio
Des Lucréce is a storyteller born between worlds. As a Norwegian-born Vietnamese artist who immigrated to the United States, he coined the term “No Home Center” to describe the limbo of living between cultures—never fully belonging to any one place. He often recalls being “too Asian for Westerners and too Western for Asia,” forever a familiar stranger wherever he goes. This lifelong journey of otherness lies at the very heart of his art, and in giving it form he has become a voice for all who feel culturally adrift.
In Lucréce’s visual universe, fantastical creatures and “monsters” dance across the canvas in intricate, intertwining lines, set against bold swaths of color. His style carries echoes of both the frenetic energy of street art and the contemplative elegance of calligraphy, reflecting influences as varied as Jean-Michel Basquiat and the Japanese printmaker Maki Haku. Having lived on multiple continents, he weaves a truly multicultural tapestry into each work a vibrant meeting of East and West where chaos and harmony elegantly coexist.
Beneath the striking imagery, Lucréce’s art is a meditation on desire, identity, and the human condition—shaped by his love of philosophy as much as by personal experience. He stands at the crossroads of digital innovation and philosophical introspection, crafting works that double as quiet inquiries into the nature of longing and belonging. One recurring theme is our endless pursuit of fulfillment: he examines consumer culture and the elusive “object of desire,” questioning what we sacrifice for what we covet—and whether possession truly satisfies our thirst. In his hands, even a mundane object like a soda can becomes a symbol of humanity’s conditioned cravings and empty promises. Yet these heady ideas never overpower the work’s soul. Theory intertwines with emotion, and his use of cutting-edge digital tools is never just for show—it’s a means to explore how technology and connectivity shape our sense of self in the modern age.
Though rich in concepts, Lucréce’s work is equally born of personal experience and emotion. His acclaimed Des Monsters series, for example, was first conceived as a response to the waves of hate his family and community faced during the pandemic. What began as cathartic portraits of bigotry—imagined as grotesque yet oddly familiar monsters—soon evolved into a broader bestiary of characters representing the many faces of otherness he has encountered.In another project, created after the loss of his father, Lucréce transformed grief into art, charting a journey of remembrance and longing that is both intimate and universally resonant. By pouring his own joys and sorrows into his creations, he opens a door for viewers to find their own reflections. Each piece invites us into a conversation about identity and empathy, asking us to recognize ourselves in the story of the “other” and to find compassion therein.
At once timeless and timely, Des Lucréce’s voice is elegant, soulful, and tinged with mystery. He has carved out a realm where imagination meets truth, and where every stroke and color carries a quiet significance. As his body of work grows and transforms, he continues to challenge and redefine what art can be, treating it as a beacon that can question, connect, and illuminate our multifaceted world To step into the world of Lucréce is to wander through a dreamscape of hidden meanings and heartfelt stories, and to emerge with new eyes—contemplating the profound beauty and complexity of being human.