MAI LA THAI
Mai La Thai, Interdisciplinary Artist, NYC
EDUCATION
Academy of Art University, BFA, San Francisco, CA 2000
Case Western Reserve University, Pre-Scholar, Cleveland, OH 1993–94
Cleveland Institute of Art, Pre-Scholar, Cleveland, OH 1990–1994
Cleveland School of the Arts, Valedictorian, Cleveland, OH 1994
RECENT EXHIBITIONS
2019 October 10–November 7th, The River Project, New York, NY
2019 July 18–October 20, Yellowstone Art Museum, Montana
National Juried Show, Juror Julia Andrews, Coral Springs Museum of Art
2019 June 23–August 18, Evansville Museum of Arts, History & Science, Indiana
National Juried Show, Juror Liz Publika, ARTpublika Magazine
2019 August 1–28, BJ Spoke Gallery, Huntington, NY
National Juried Show, Juror Hillary Reder, Museum of Modern Art, NY
2019 May 01-May 30, Site: Brooklyn, Brooklyn, NY
National Juried Show, Juror Elisabeth Biondi
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019 PDN Photo Annual, Winners Gallery
2019 ECAD, Apollo 50th Anniversary, Times Square, NY
2018 NYFW, Saks 5th Avenue, New York, NY
2017 Good Luck America, Brooklyn, New York
2016 Berlin Foto Biennial, Berlin, Germany
2016 ArtBridge, A+E Studios, New York, NY
2016 Winter Fete, Georges Berges Gallery, New York, NY
2015 Small is Beautiful, The Flowers Gallery, New York, NY
2015 ArtBridge, Jack Studios, New York, NY
2014 Small is Beautiful, The Flowers Gallery, New York, NY
2008 Hearts & Minds, Art Director's Club, New York, NY
1996 Academy of Art Spring Show, San Francisco, CA
1994 Montgomery County Fair, Gaithersburg, MD
1993 Cleveland Playhouse Theater, Cleveland, OH
1993 The Scholastic Art Show, Cleveland, OH
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2017 The Explorers Club, New York, NY
2017 Steven Amedee Gallery, New York, NY
2010 Zora Space, New York, NY
1993 Billboards, Cleveland and Metro North, Ohio
1993 Cleveland City Hall, Cleveland, OH
FILM FESTIVALS AND SCREENINGS
2011 “Boat No. _” NYC Int. Film Festival, Official Selection, Times Square, NY
2010 “Boat No. _” Solo Screening, InterContinental Hotel, New York, NY
2010 “Boat No. _” Solo Screening, Zora Space, Brooklyn, NY
2006 “Goal”, Nike World Cup Soccer Event, Flushing Meadows, New York
HONORS / AWARDS
2019 PDN Photo Annual, 1st Place, Promo / Websites
2018 Forbes' Editor's Pick, Beale Air Force Base Story Photographer
2018 PDN Online, Featured Photographer
2017 Solo and group exhibitions, Brooklyn and Manhattan
2016 Photography Exhibition: Berlin Photo-Biennial
2015 The Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers, Finalist in 4 Categories
2015 The Pollux Awards, Finalist in 4 Categories
2014 Became Executive Member of the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences
2013 Corbis (Getty Images) Film Prize, "A Beautiful Death"
2013 The Webby Awards, Short Film "Boat No. _"
2010 The Webby Awards, Short Film, "A Toast to Memo"
2008 Penguin Books, Cover Finalist
2007 The Webby Awards, Short Film, "Goal"
2007 The Telly Awards, Short Film, "Goal"
2006 Nike, Film Prize
2004 The One Show
2001 The Clio Awards
2000 The International Andy Awards
1998 Academy of Art University Grant
1998,1999 San Francisco Ad Club Scholarships
1994 Montgomery County Fair, First Place Painting
1994 North Coast Cable, Grand Prize
1993 Sue Wall Award for Painting
1993 The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, Gold Key Finalist
1993 African American Museum of Art, 2nd Place
1992 American Automobile Association, Prize
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
The 2019 PDN Photo Annual, Sept./Oct. 2019
Mai La Thai, The Ride of My Life, PDN Online, Aug. 2018
Emotions & Commotions-Across Cultures, Text by Hirsch-Hardy, Kerher Verlag, Sep. 2016
Jim Clash, From Refugee Boat To New York Artist, Mai La Thai's American Dream, Forbes, Feb. 2016
Hearts & Minds • The Art Issue, Show of Talent, Creativity Magazine, Sep. 2008
New Directors Showcase, Shots, Annual, 2007
PUBLIC ART
2010–2011 In Plain Sight, ArtBridge, New York, NY
1993 Honoring Black History, Cleveland and Metro North Area, Ohio
1993 Cleveland Museum of Art, Contributing Artist, Cleveland, Ohio
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
Webby, International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences
American Institute of Graphic Arts, Online Gallery
Cleveland Metro-Health Hospital, Cleveland, OH
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
New York
San Francisco
Washington, DC
Georgia
Maine
Amsterdam
Kenya
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Over the years, Mai has also worked at some of the world's top design and advertising agencies.
She served as a creative director, art director, designer, copywriter, and occasional illustrator to conceptualize and develop award-winning broadcast, digital, and print campaigns for global brands such as FedEx, Guinness, Nike, and many others. (Awards include Clios, Effies, Addy, etc. An archival reel is available upon request.)
Since being honored thrice for her independently produced and innovative short films by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences (The Webby Awards), she became an Executive Member and Juror since 2014.
In 2018, she received Forbes Editor's Pick for one of her first adventure photo story assignments covering Beale Air Force Base and chasing the U-2 spy plane.
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In 2019, she won first-place in the prestigious PDN Photo Annual for her photography website.