Ana Huong was just 25 years old when she fled Vietnam in 1975, escaping the trauma of war and the collapse of her homeland. She arrived in the United States with little more than her will to survive, eventually transforming her pain into a powerful artistic voice for peace. From 2022 to 2024, she faced yet another battle—this time against colon cancer. But just like before, she emerged resilient, channeling her experience into art that continues to speak to the soul.

One of her most powerful pieces, Red Rain, remains her personal favorite—a haunting and vivid reflection on the cost of conflict and the enduring strength of the human spirit. Today, her body of work and numerous others can be explored online at www.peacemural.org, or in person by invitation at the Miami Art Palace, home of the Peace Mural Foundation Inc., located at 7900 SW 77th Avenue in Miami, Florida. Her artistic presence is deeply rooted throughout the state, with strong followings in Miami Beach, Boca Raton, Palm Beach and South Miami.

Huong’s artistic journey has blossomed into a powerful legacy of success, marked by the opening of numerous galleries that showcase her vision for peace. From Florida to Alaska, her work has found homes in both public and private spaces—each gallery serving as a sanctuary for reflection, healing and dialogue.

Through these exhibitions, Huong has built more than just a platform for her paintings—she’s cultivated a movement. Her success is not only measured by the walls her art hangs on, but by the lives she’s touched and the communities she’s united. Against all odds, she has turned personal pain into a public mission, using each gallery as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of creativity.

Despite her success, Huong’s path has not been without danger. During a public workshop for her mural The Message to the President, she received a chilling threat from those who opposed her message of peace. A white egret—killed and hung from her front gate—was left as a gruesome warning. Even more devastating, her favorite cat was found murdered on the doorstep to her garden—a space she had lovingly tended for years as a place of reflection, growth and healing.

These acts of violence struck at the heart of her sanctuary. But even in the face of such cruelty, Huong refused to be silenced. Her commitment to peace runs deeper than fear.

One of her most cherished chapters began in Alaska, where she found a sense of calm and clarity in nature’s stillness. It was there that she taught herself to paint—drawing from discipline, reflection and the emotional scars of war. Alaska offered her not only peace, but purpose. From those quiet beginnings, she built an entire artistic philosophy rooted in hope, justice and the belief that creativity and empowerment can change the world.

At the heart of everything Ana Huong creates is a singular, unwavering goal: to promote peace and end war. Her life’s work is rooted in healing wounds that weapons cannot, and building bridges where borders once divided.

Through bold colors and emotional storytelling, Huong invites viewers to imagine a world without violence, a world where compassion replaces conflict. Her murals and galleries are acts of resistance against hate, and beacons of hope for future generations.

Even after surviving war, illness, and personal loss, she continues to lead with light. Her dream is simple yet profound—that one day, people will look at her work and remember what peace looks like, and more importantly, believe it’s still possible.

In celebration of her journey and her life’s mission, a documentary film is currently in production: Art, War, Peace. Created in partnership with the Peace Mural Foundation, the film will trace Huong’s story from the chaos of Vietnam to the quiet triumph of her art, peaceful protesting and powerful change. Through powerful interviews, original footage and behind-the-scenes moments, Art, War, Peace will spotlight the woman behind the brush—the survivor, the fighter and the visionary. It aims to honor her legacy while amplifying her message to a global audience: that peace is not a dream, but a choice.

Ana Huong’s legacy is one of transformation. She is a child of war who became a woman of peace—an artist, activist and survivor whose life’s work continues to inspire.

Through each brushstroke, gallery, and mural, she reminds us that beauty can rise from devastation, and that even the most painful stories can become instruments of healing.

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