Le Thiet Cuong attended the Vietnam State Film School in Hanoi where he studied set design and animation, following in the profession of his parents. His early artistic talents were noted from an early age when he was evacuated to the country during the American war. He spent his days drawing and became a cartographer during his army service in the early 80´s.

Le Thiet Cuong‘s trademark gouache on cheesecloth paintings have now become iconic of their time. His style is minimalist and is inspired by Buddhist teachings and Eastern philosophies, which is apparent in his often simple compositions. However, he never loses sight of the importance of the depiction of village and country life in his paintings motivated by his early childhood experiences. Objects and food from everyday life such as rice, grains, rice bowls and chopsticks are important motifs in his works. “Rice culture is food for the spirit”, Cuong has commented. His paintings are often stark in their simplicity yet rich and diverse in their meaning and interpretation and hold a serene power in our ever-changing cluttered world.