How can artists become catalysts for transcultural learning and creative innovation?
Urushi: exploring the chromacosm showcases the tradition and versatility of urushi, a millenia-old Japanese lacquer tradition that is renowned for its luminosity, elegance, and remarkable durability.
This exhibition features work by Vietnamese-born urushi artist Nhat Tran. It showcases the artist’s creative arc that began with a mastery of prehistoric Japanese lacquer techniques and evolved through bold experimentation with varied materials, such as wood, ceramic, plexiglass, animal skulls, and antlers.
ABout the Artist
Nhat Tran
Nhat Tran is a visual artist specializing in 2-D and 3-D urushi lacquer painting, with a career spanning over three decades. Born in Vietnam, Tran received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Fine Arts in Ho Chi Minh City in 1992 and moved to the United States after graduation. Her artistic journey has been marked by innovation and versatility. She has earned many awards, including best-of-show from the International Art Fair at Santa Fe 2018, the Christel DeHaan Artist of Distinction Award, and twice the Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship from the Arts Council of Indianapolis. She was also selected by Art in Embassies (AIE), U.S. Department of State, for a Cultural Exchange exhibition in the U.S. Embassy, Hanoi, Vietnam. Her work has garnered international recognition, leading to prestigious public commissions and exhibitions. One of her notable achievements is the creation of a urushi lacquer mural titled “On the Tip of Our Wings” for the Indianapolis International Airport, completed in 2008. Her artworks are featured in several renowned museums across the United States and China, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery, Washington, DC; the National Museum of Women in the Arts, Washington, DC; the Corcoran Gallery of Art (now American University Museum, Katzen Arts Center), Washington, DC; the Indiana State Museum, Indianapolis; Richmond Art Museum, Richmond and Hubei Museum of Art, Wuhan, China. In 2024, she was named an awardee in the Hoosier Women Artists competition by the Office of Indiana’s Lieutenant Governor and Indiana Arts Commission. In 2023, Tran became the inaugural recipient of the Indianapolis Creative Risk Fund grant, thanks to which she was able to develop a new set of techniques that allowed her to become the first artist worldwide to have successfully created 3D Jou ki-urushi plexiglass artworks of stunning beauty. Tran’s expertise in urushi lacquer has led to international research opportunities, including at Tokyo University of the Arts and at Kyoto City University of Arts in Japan.
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Plan
Your
Visit
The Frank Museum is located one block east of Uptown Westerville’s vibrant commercial district. Spend an afternoon visiting the museum’s current exhibition, browsing in Uptown’s locally owned shops, and relaxing in our excellent restaurants or coffee establishments. The Frank Museum staff are always available for tours.
Current Exhibitions
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A Journey through America with Robert Freimark
Christian Hohmann, Curator; In collaboration with HOHMANN Fine Art GalleryFrank Museum of ArtAugust 19 – December 4, 2026Between 1960 and 1968, artist Robert Freimark created Fifty States, a suite of abstract, full-sheet color screen prints representing each of the fifty United States. To make this collection, Freimark traveled around the country. He drew from his own experiences as well as extensive research into the history of each state to create a unique, multilayered print. Situated in The Frank, a museum dedicated to global art, the installation reflects on America’s 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and our country’s place in the world. -
Jim Bowling: Inside Out
A Sabbatical ExhibitionMiller GalleryAugust 19 – November 4, 2026In this sabbatical exhibition, Jim Bowling reflects on the ways that personal, internal narratives influence external expressions. The artist explores this theme through the intimate connection between the interiors and exteriors of sculptural forms. Each narrative begins in the center of the sculpture, at the core of each piece. The surface narratives on the exterior ‘support’ forms, which are simple figurative bases, are impacted and transformed by the internal narratives. Viewers can investigate the nuanced relationships between inner narratives and exterior expressions through this series titled “Inside Out.” -
Weight & Witness
Alex Lewis & Jack KoppertFisher GalleryApril 5 – September 26, 2026Weight & Witness pairs the accumulated gravity of Alex Lewis’ ceramic and assemblage sculptures with the unflinching portraiture of Jack Koppert’s oil paintings. Together, their work engenders a domestic solemnity, punctuated by moments of surprise and humor.