Karen Thảo La (she/her) is a Vietnamese-Canadian artist, cultural producer, and facilitator based on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations. With roots from Sài Gòn to Cà Mau, her community-engaged practice is shaped by collective memory, ancestral folklore, and a childhood dream to create freely. Her work centres on creating accessible artistic experiences and spaces for gathering, connection, and learning. She collaborates with local municipalities and organizations to produce large-scale, free, public art festivals for all to enjoy. Her latest initiative, Vòng Vòng (“around”), is a periodic, interdisciplinary series weaving themes of identity and cultural exchange between generations. She also leads youth programs at Vancouver’s Roundhouse Community Centre and has facilitated workshops for children across British Columbia and in Vietnam. This fall, she will lead The Gibson Museum’s Open Studio Saturdays. She holds a BFA from the University of British Columbia and is committed to ongoing un/learning and embodied practice.

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