AGE: 33
BASED IN: Long Beach, CA
In Tidawhitney Lek’s paintings, distinctions between interior and exterior, past and present, and foreground and background collapse. Her densely layered, brightly colored compositions reflect on her life as a firstgeneration American born to Cambodian parents. Her work has charmed visitors and curators alike since she made waves at the Hammer Museum’s “Made in L.A.” biennial in 2023. Next up: a three-person show at Victoria Miro in London and her Art Basel Miami Beach debut with Night Gallery.
Describe one work you’ve made that captures who you are as an artist.
It would be Refuge, which is up now at the Henry Art Gallery at the University of Washington in Seattle. The setting [of a bomb exploding outside a home while the family and a soldier look on] is fictional, but deeply influenced by the architecture of my home. It spans generations, an entire nation, a deeply embedded scar, an important narrative that’s not told enough. It’s also about disconnect, erasure, violence, future, and forwardness—a combination of topics that I found hard to start a conversation about because they’re so sensitive. I wanted a really strong piece, one that could start or join a dialogue. I let that sketch sit for a whole year while I worked out the kinks on the smaller paintings. It’s a heavy metaphor: a depiction of humanity in its vulnerable state informed by the powerful impression of art.
Imagine someone gives you $150,000 to make anything you want—no strings. What are you making?
I’ve been thinking about this mural for so long now. I’ve only ever made one and that was in 2019 for POW! WOW! Long Beach (now called Long Beach Walls). I got a lot of praise from the neighborhood—the city and the locals really loved it. I wanted to help uplift this really rough corner in our city, my part of the neighborhood called Cambodia Town, and thanks to a few colleagues I had the chance. Unfortunately, the mural only lasted five years. It was completely vandalized beyond repair along with a number of other murals in the city. If I was granted $150,000, I’d definitely create another amazing mural project for my city.
Is there a studio rule you live by?
No fucks given in the studio. It’s your safe space—you only have yourself to blame.
See CULTURED’s full 2025 Young Artists list and access other individual artist profiles here.
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