Duy Huynh was born in Vietnam. His interest in art began shortly after his arrival to the United States in the early 80s. Due to the difficulties he had with adapting to new language and surroundings, he took refuge in the art of comics, graffiti and cartoons. He graduated with a degree in painting and illustration from UNC Charlotte after which he began painting murals and showing his work in bars, coffee shops, restaurants, and music venues. Huynh creates contemplative and poetic acrylic paintings. His first art commission came in the 3rd grade when his classmate hired him to draw the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. For this work, he was paid $2 and chocolate milk for the week. From then, he learned it was possible to make a connection through the use of a visual language. And the experience serves to remind him even today to always maintain and enjoy his childhood love.
Huynh draws inspiration from a variety of storytellers in formats including comic book adventures, movies, music and ancient folklore. Even though many of his works are deeply personal, his humorous and clever use of symbolism and wordplay usually invite viewers to create their own storyline. Themes of cultural and geographical displacement are prevalent in his artwork. Delicate characters maintain a precarious balance in a dreamlike setting in all his artworks. With his figures, Huynh explores emotion along with motion in order to portray both the triumph of the human spirit and the beauty of the human form. He also attempts to symbolically and literally connect fluid patterns in nature with that of human made aspirations. This often results in hybrid dreamscapes which are filled with flowering fragments and melodic manifestations that transcend limitations of logic. Huynh is represented by several galleries, including Lark & Key Gallery And Boutique. In addition, many licensed galleries sell ready to mount laminated, canvas, or framed Duy Huynh art in a variety of sizes and designs.