Thao French: Muralist

Not just anybody can take the phrase “fake it ‘til you make it” and make an entire career out of it. Thao French was a traditional painter, up until the day her friend asked if she knew any mural artists. She accepted the job herself, despite having no experience.

Now, Thao’s art can be seen all around the streets of San Diego.  

“I was always a painter, and some of my works are on these like large canvases. But up until that point, I had never done a mural, and I said yes to my first job.”

Thao’s art draws deeply from her roots. She grew up watching her mother and grandmother in the garden, their love for flowers imprinting on her without her realizing. 

As an artist, her mind is constantly searching for more inspiration. It’s not uncommon for her to stop while driving to take photos of plants, collecting references for her paintings. 

“I take pictures of leaves and branches and roots…and I just kind of form my own bouquet out of that.”

One of Thao’s favorite flowers is the peony, because its petals are reminiscent of flames. She’s realized that even in her floral work, the movement and colors that she showcases look like fire. 

This motif makes her feel like she’s truly representing her own feelings and identity in everything she creates. 

“I have a lot of anger, a lot of passion, a lot of love inside of me. So I think that it just comes out naturally…and I hope that also resonates with others.” 

A film by Bettina Hanna.