Craig Thomas, the American owner of Craig Thomas Gallery in Ho Chi Minh City, is optimistic about Vietnam’s art scene, although local artists still have a long way to go.

Thomas has celebrated several Tet holidays in HCMC. He particularly loves driving around the city during Tet, when it’s considerably less crowded and the atmosphere is celebratory.

His gallery, at 27i Tran Nhat Duat, District 1, has grown to be a popular art hub among expats in Vietnam and other Asian countries.

From well-paid lawyer to struggling gallery owner

In 1995, 28-year-old Thomas left Alabama to be a lawyer in Hanoi, but didn’t expect he would live there for more than a couple of years.

However, Thomas soon quit his job—despite his pay rate of US$300 an hour—to work part-time at Hanoi Studio, a local art gallery.

He never imagined that the part-time job would transform him into a professional in the local art market, which was then stagnant and amateurish.

He marked his professionalism in the field by founding Craig Thomas Gallery in 2009. Like his colleagues, several of whom have had to shut down their galleries in Hanoi and HCMC after many years in operation, Thomas has encountered tremendous difficulties running his gallery.

However, his efforts have paid off, and several of his well-organized art exhibits have been extremely successful.

Thomas said that Vietnamese and Viet Kieu currently make up some 25% of his clientele, a 500% increase from his first days in business and an auspicious sign that the local art market is growing.

Vietnamese clients have purchased a number of paintings displayed at Craig Thomas Gallery exhibits, particularly those that aren’t targeted at foreigners.

However, Vietnamese art purchase power still lags far behind that of other Asian countries including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China.

“Vietnamese people didn’t get rich until 10 years ago, while other Southeast Asian countries did several decades ago. Though there are now many USD millionaires in Vietnam, the local art collection is yet to thrive. However, I remain hopeful. Though I now still struggle to run my gallery, I’ll stick to the job until I’m too old to do so,” the American shared.

Thomas favors classic art genres, particularly oil paintings, over contemporary work that involves installations or video art.

Unlike most galleries that typically display the work of established artists, Thomas’ gallery focuses on showcasing the work of young, emerging artists, aiming to nurture their talents and passion.

Thomas plans to stay in Vietnam for as long as possible.

“Alabama is serene and beautiful, but I can’t live there. My life, job, and friends—both expats and Vietnamese–are all here,” Thomas shared.