Cuong (Mike) Tran (b. 1980) is a first-generation Vietnamese-American. His parents immigrated to the U.S. in 1975 after their homeland was devastated by war. At age five, unable to afford store-bought toys, Mike began crafting his own action figures from paper and cardboard. Mike found that entering into an imaginary world was a way to escape his abusive environment. It was not until Covid that he began a serious self study in painting. Mike’s art has been instrumental in his healing process. It has allowed him to open to extraordinary levels of self-honesty, transcend dystopia and make reparations.

Mike was recently released after nearly two decades in a “gated community” called “California Men’s Colony State Prison.” Despite severe restrictions, Mike’s artistry demonstrates proficiency as well as the resilience of the human spirit. Working in a 3’ x 11’ cell, he often transforms discarded, overlooked, and inexpensive art materials into expressions (both paintings and 3-dimensional forms) with great proficiency. “By using materials often seen as ‘inferior,’ I am reclaiming my dignity.” 

In addition to being an artist, Mike is a Nationally Certified Substance Abuse Counselor.