Emerging in His Image by Khoua H.
Acrylic
Meet the artist: Khoua H.
Inspiration for the piece:
This artwork represents the spiritual journey of transformation. How I started out was very vulnerable and earthbound, like a caterpillar searching for something more as I begin to move toward Jesus. I shed my old ways as I endured seasons of stillness and struggle and also slowly shaped into something new. The closer I draw to him, the more I begin to reflect His image until one day, I emerge fully transformed, free and full of purpose. Just like the butterfly, my resurrection doesn't come without process but in Christ I am made new. This is the story of healing, surrender, and the beauty of becoming.
Artist statement:
From cocoon to Christ. Metamorphosis of Grace. Becoming like him. Transformation through Him. From wounded to wings. The journey to Jesus. Wings to resurrection. Draw to the light. Becoming the image of glory.
Spoken Heart … Westminster Presbyterian Church
In the AFTI Store:
11” x 14”
The emblematic Toh bird symbolizes my new beginning in a foreign land. Just as the Toh leaves its cavernous sinkhole home to explore the wide jungle, I left the cavernous walls of a 6x9 cell. I am shedding the heartless value system imposed on me and moving into a new, lighter existence. Although the Toh is flying free, the weight of its past is ever-present.
16” x 20”
This piece was inspired by what's going on around the world - genocide, war. Asking God through the form of a prayer to bring peace to this world.
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic
I am who I am but much more then what i am. Born in chains but refuse to die in them. Living to be a legend dying to be a god, a misfit child that's what they label me. But there is something you may not know, we're all misfits. I'm just the one that chose to embrace it. Savage King!
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic and watercolor
Letting people know that you are not alone. Your past does not define you. I wanted to share my pain and what I've struggled with growing up. That I was able to let go and move on from it and grow. Being free in my mind, body and spirit. Knowing that I changed and living in my truth.
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic
The inspiration for this piece is personal life struggles and experiences. I've had a lot of pain and loss in my life and made bad decisions. But I've also been blessed with a beautiful daughter and great family. Throughout everything I've experienced I've never taken the time to dissect what I've been through, who I was, who I am, and who I want to be...my heart has been through more than me. . .
16” x 20”
Medium: Colored pencil on Bristol paper
As I sit in this cage, I always view birds as free, but I didn't want to do an eagle or hawk. I wanted to catch the viewer's eye, and a kingfisher caught my eye with its bright colors. I feel free and viewed.
16” x 20”
Medium: Graphite and colored pencil
My home town is surrounded by 3 reservations. So many Native American women and girls go missing or end up dead with little news coverage. So this case, this logo speaks to me but I wanted to bring it to life.
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic
My heart would say that I've been searching all my life for something I can't see. It's only something I can feel within. It makes me wonder as though this feeling isn't originally my own, but that of my ancestors. As if a gift was passed down to me but without knowing what it is, it seemed more of a curse and I used it as such. Only now am I starting to finally see little by little.
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic
In my drawing I have a ship which is in a storm and going through it to a calm side. I have a helm around the ship with time inside of the helm. On top of the helm, there is a silhouette of my family. To explain the picture is this: The ship is myself and life, the storm is me being in prison and facing a difficult time in my life. The helm around the ship is me steering myself through the storm. The time inside the helm represents patience and perseverance for me to get through the hard time that I'm facing through the storm. The silhouette represents my family who I can't see clearly while going through the storm. When the storm is gone I will be able to share in the calm with my family.
16” x 20”
Medium: Watercolor, oil pastels, acrylic
It started off as an idea of what I would like my shoe closet to look like and then I ran out of time to create something for the art show because of Stillwater shut down. So I was inspired to step up upon these circumstances and finish strong.
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic
I struggle with mental health and so do my daughters. This piece comes straight from my heart and soul. Being in prison or in a place where you feel alone and the demons around you keep showing up to torment you. I made this as my way to fight those demons and show myself and others that just because we have struggles, we are not alone and to never give in to those demons we fight on a daily basis.
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic
My inspiration for this piece is all the hurt and trials I have gone through.
16” x 20”
Medium: Pencil, colored pencil, paint, chalk, watercolor, ink
I wanted this piece to show that being born innocent without knowing what evil is. After getting older and as you start making life choices and how they lead down the wrong path. I wanted people to have that A-HA moment when they see my emotions on paper, after being suppressed for years by feeling alone and too ashamed to realize there was others like me. The poem is explaining my journey after defeating my demons, after a life full of pain. And finding the feeling of wanting to go home after finding a piece of my innocence and making peace with my pain.
16” x 20”
Medium: Pencil on Strathmore 500 series paper with a plate finish
"Mako sica" in the Dakota language means"forgotten/abandoned" which is what motivated me to do the portrait of Ohiye'Sa (Charles A. Eastman,) 1858-1939, from Redwood Falls, Minnesota Territory, an American physician, writer, social reformer. One of the first Native Americans to be certified in Western medicine, and played a huge part in 32 chapters of the YMCA/Boy Scouts of America. How can someone who touched so many lives be so easily forgotten? To bring this piece to life with a mere pencil forces me to believe we can once again live in a world without judgement/abandonment. The value places in the drawing is the value I hope can again be placed in those who have been forgotten. Never Forget!
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic
This artwork represents the spiritual journey of transformation. How I started out was very vulnerable and earthbound, like a caterpillar searching for something more as I begin to move toward Jesus. I shed my old ways as I endured seasons of stillness and struggle and also slowly shaped into something new. The closer I draw to him, the more I begin to reflect His image until one day, I emerge fully transformed, free and full of purpose. Just like the butterfly, my resurrection doesn't come without process but in Christ I am made new. This is the story of healing, surrender, and the beauty of becoming.
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic
Being away from my 2 year old son, locked in prison. My girlfriend was pregnant when I got sent here. My new baby is 2 months old now, she's a daughter. I try to evolve on a daily basis to be the best father to my kids when I'm released!
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic
Back to my memories of growing up on the farm and around lakes.
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic, watercolor
When I was given the theme idea for our final project, the first thought that came to mind was how art frees my heart. Free from sorrow, sadness, anger and fear. From the prisons I put myself in mentally and physically. Free from holding on to the pain death has carved in my life. My heart says I'm free and I believe it.
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic
If my heart could speak, what would it say? My heart would say, "Help!" I have grown from a boy to a man with chains on my neck and hands. It would say help because through everything it's trying to understand God's plan. My heart would say help because it's been away from my loved ones so long and no, I'm not talking about visits because I've had those. Not the gaping space that stands between us as I view them from afar.
16” x 20”
Medium: Watercolor
My life burning away. No matter the shape or size, when fire consumes an object, only the shape of FIRE remains.
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic, watercolor and pen
This piece represents my journey of healing. I'm a survivor of gun violence and I thought my life didn't have meaning. Expressing myself through my creativity has been a part of finding out who I am. Growing up, I felt I had no place, so I turned to a gang, thinking it would give me a sense of belonging, but I felt even more lonely. Stepping into my faith has shown me I have a purpose and I'm continuing to venture into my true self. Knowing my higher power has given me the love I deserve, I will continue to feel whole. This piece not only represents my pain, but the beauty in it as well.
16” x 20”
From prison I see nothing good. I see no joy, love, happiness and no hope. I see no kindness, no hope of having a future or finding love or getting back the life taken from me. I see only pain, suffering, struggle and no matter how good I am or how much I want to make the world better I will never be allowed to help people, to find love or have a family or go to live free and be happy. I have tried to find hope but it doesn't exist and it is clear that only death can give me and my kids hope and happiness.
16” x 20”
Medium: Pencil, acrylic
If My Heart Could Speak
I wish you would have protected me that day instead of choosing to stay. That demonstration set the tone, even to this day.
Broken, shattered and in pieces.
Who would have thought this would have been my storyline.
I wear it so well, can you tell?
I wish I could have enjoyed my childhood instead of having the responsibilities of a mother. Then at fourteen becoming a mother.
Broken, shattered and in pieces.
But in awe and in love (it's a boy) my baby boy that I vowed to protect, until gun violence became a threat.
Broken, shattered and in pieces.
But my baby girl keeps me alive.
The navigation of my life journey has not been easy sailing. Statistics will show the data that will lead to my demise.
I'm a product of my environment and I can't afford to change my environment, everybody needs me.
The weight is heavy.
I roll the dice and take a chance with my life.
Broken, shattered and in pieces.
275 months and lives lost was the price!! Was it worth it? Hell NO!!
There was no pathway that could lead me or that I could see. Now, I'm being judged for what's embedded in me.
My communities are considered Redline communities (that's high risk) good examples, I never saw me!
But I always saw you!
Now here I am, standing before you, listening to you tell me about who I should be.
What was the example, then, I needed to see?
Broken, shattered and in pieces.
I pose the question?
How is the constitution the constitution when I don't see me?
The 13th amendment was created to continue to fulfill the dream!
Blow after blow, NO NO NO NO NO NO, but I'm still praying for the 3.
Addictions, welfare, homelessness, domestic violence. I was kidnapped at 13.
Where was the system when I needed them?
Now I'm asking for a second chance.
But my heart says
It's your first.
Broken, shattered and in pieces.
Now I ask what do you see?!
Here's me.
All remedies exhausted is what my heart speaks . . .
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic paint with varnished top coat
I identify with animals better than I do with humans. So, I thought about how I see myself. For this painting, "Happy as a Frog on a Log," frogs for the most part are solitary animals as am I. They are amphibious and are content spending their time in the woods or forest. I have never seen a frog smile before so I made one do just that.
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic
Inspired by my mom and everyone else that breast cancer has affected.
16” x 20”
Medium: Pencil, watercolor, acrylic
The majority of my life I grew up in a predominantly white town. I knew I was different and white folks made me feel that it was wrong to be that way. Eventually, in denial, I tried to "erase" my culture, being like the other white folks to fit in; to dress, look, and act how my impression of a white female would. Getting locked up was really when I started learning who I am and actually loving myself. I'm no longer ashamed and guilty but empowered for being a person of color. I'm proud that I'm different. I'm proud to be me.
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic
I find myself thinking about the lack of love I get from those who I did the most for. How I was left to do this time on my own. How my kids' mom cheated and lied and stole from me. How I barely hear from my children. How I miss my life and the stitches represent the healing since I'm getting better and almost home.
11” x 14”
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
My metaphorical heart - and, I believe, every human heart - is filled with layer upon layer of grief and love and loss and joy. I'm not always able to access complexity in the moment when yet another tragedy strikes; the good is obscured, invisible, absent from my perception, while the world both inside and out seems full of nearly unbearable emotions and experiences. In those times - in these times, in this harrowing start to 2026 - it feels like my heart has lost every language but that of the blood, and it spills, it pours without end, without mercy.
(Title - prefaced by text in painting - from Psalm 94.)
18” x 24”
Medium: Pencil and acrylic paint
If my heart could speak, it would speak of what remains after the fire.
The reaching hand stands in the aftermath... not as rescue, but as resolve. Destruction changes us, but it does not remove our power to shape what comes next.
Rebuilding is a choice.
Medium: Acrylic on canvas
The emblematic Toh bird symbolizes my new beginning in a foreign land. Just as the Toh leaves its cavernous sinkhole home to explore the wide jungle, I left the cavernous walls of a 6x9 cell. I am shedding the heartless value system imposed on me and moving into a new, lighter existence. Although the Toh is flying free, the weight of its past is ever-present.
16” x 20” and 11” x 14” sold as a set of 2
Medium: Acrylic on panel and canvas
The true inspiration behind this piece is life in today's world and all the trials and tribulations that other people are going through I wish for a little reprieve and hope the world can be surrounded by peace at some point.
11” x 14”
The emblematic Toh bird symbolizes my new beginning in a foreign land. Just as the Toh leaves its cavernous sinkhole home to explore the wide jungle, I left the cavernous walls of a 6x9 cell. I am shedding the heartless value system imposed on me and moving into a new, lighter existence. Although the Toh is flying free, the weight of its past is ever-present.
16” x 20”
Medium: Acrylic
This artwork represents the spiritual journey of transformation. How I started out was very vulnerable and earthbound, like a caterpillar searching for something more as I begin to move toward Jesus. I shed my old ways as I endured seasons of stillness and struggle and also slowly shaped into something new. The closer I draw to him, the more I begin to reflect His image until one day, I emerge fully transformed, free and full of purpose. Just like the butterfly, my resurrection doesn't come without process but in Christ I am made new. This is the story of healing, surrender, and the beauty of becoming.