About

Nguyễn Ngọc Thảo (Thao) is a Vietnamese-Australian artist, educator, and researcher based in Naarm. Working across participatory installation, textiles, clay, food and socially engaged practices, her work focuses on creating spaces for connection, conversation, and community. She is currently completing a practice-led PhD exploring the impacts of Whiteness and the weaponisation of language on Asian-Australians.

Outside of the studio, Thao is an avid birdwatcher, and runs a monthly supper club that explores the intersection of collaboration, artmaking, storytelling and food.

Education
2021 – ongoing – PhD Art, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University
2019 – Masters of Art in Public Space, RMIT University
2017 – Bachelors in Fashion Design (Hons), RMIT University

Selected Curatorial
2020 – Assembly Point, Self-sourced, Melbourne, VIC
2019 – RMIT Gallery, Bruised: Art Action and Ecology in Asia, Melbourne, VIC
2019 – First Site Gallery, Her Alters, Melbourne VIC

Exhibitions
2025 – First Site Gallery, tên tôi, Melbourne, VIC
2024 – Testing Grounds, Closer Agencies, Melbourne, VIC
2024 – Project Space, Meet me in the words, Banff, AB
2024 – Bus Projects, Maude King's Love Letters, Melbourne, VIC
2022 – Wandering Room, Victoria St, Brunswick, Melbourne, VIC
2020 – fortyfive downstairs, 1.5 degrees, Melbourne, VIC
2019 – Counihan Gallery, Moreland Summer Show, Melbourne, VIC
2019 – Black Cat Gallery, Femina Extravaganza, Melbourne, VIC
2019 – Campbell Arcade, adrift, Melbourne, VIC
2019 – RMIT University (city campus), Her Boundaries Festival, Melbourne, VIC
2017 – First Site Gallery, edges and in-between, VAMFF Group Show, Melbourne, VIC

Publications/ Writing
2024 – Reshaping Worlds: Thinking with and through positionality for thriving futures, Art, Design & Communications in Higher Education 23(2)
2021 – Bruised: A Reflection, RMIT Culture
2020 – Temporary Text(iles), The Journal of Public Space 5(4)
2019 – Breaking Words with performance artist Arahmaiani, RMIT Gallery

Awards + Residencies
2021 - 2025 – Research Training Program Stipend Scholarship, Australian Government
2024 – Get LIT! Visual Arts Thematic Residency, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
2022, 2023 – 2022 and 2023 School of Art Community of Practice Award, Award for Collaborative Projects & Collegiality, RMIT University
2021 – RMIT University Design and Social Contexts College Learning and Teaching Award, Award for Sessional: student experience that supports diversity and inclusive practice
2019 – People’s Choice Award, Moreland Group Show, Counihan Gallery
2019 – The Vice Chancellor’s List for Academic Achievement, RMIT University
2013 - 2017 – RMIT University Scholarship of Excellence and Equity