A new art exhibit titled "A Refugee's Origin" opens at the Shell Gallery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, featuring nearly 30 works by artist and rheumatologist K.T. Ho. The show includes paintings, photos, and installations that trace Ho's journey from Vietnam to Louisiana, exploring family history, culture, and the experience of survival and starting over. The free exhibit runs from April 27 through May 29, 2026, with an opening reception on May 1 featuring a lion dance and food, presented in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
This exhibit matters because it brings a personal refugee narrative into a public art space, highlighting the role of visual art in sharing immigrant experiences and fostering cross-cultural understanding. By centering the work of a Vietnamese American artist who is also a medical professional, the show broadens the definition of who can be an artist and whose stories are told in galleries, while also participating in the national observance of AAPI Heritage Month.