Mai Lam transparent acrylic sign with wooden and brass stand 60x60cm

Lam Thi Kim Mai, or known professionally as Mai Lam (s. 1957) is a self-taught Vietnamese multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans wearable art, furniture art, embroidery sculpture, and cultural preservation. Rooted in personal and collective memory, her work transforms traditional Vietnamese embroidery and metalwork into compelling contemporary narratives of identity and heritage. After returning to Vietnam in 1994, she spent a decade deepening her engagement with local craftsmanship before formally establishing her brand in 2005. For more than two decades, her creative practice has expanded from fashion into the realm of fine art, with her studio, Mai Lam Wearable Art, gaining support from local and international collectors and cementing her role as a pioneering voice in Vietnam’s fashion-art scene. Her creations, such as the dreamlike Vườn Mai 3D embroidered sculptures (2019) and the culturally resonant Kim Long wearable art collection (2024), blend a whimsical fantasy lens with  profound historical inquiry. Beyond fashion-art, Mai Lam has contributed to Vietnamese cinematic verse as the costume designer for the historical blockbuster Địa Đạo: Mặt Trời Trong Bóng Tối (2025). Committed to elevating local artisans and artists, Mai Lam actively supports emerging talent through both direct patronage and collaborative initiatives— channeling resources through her own studio while also partnering with forward- thinking art foundations like MoT+++. Guided by a persevering commitment to hand-embroidery and textile art, she continues to reclaim, reimagine, and preserve Vietnam’s cultural legacy—breathing new life into fading crafts within a landscape of mass production.

“When dragonflies fly low, rain will follow,
When they soar high, the sun will shine,

When they hover midway, the sky stays mild.”

This Vietnamese folk rhyme, deeply tied to the lives of farmers, trans- forms into a poetic, dynamic image through Mai Lâm’s perspective. The beauty of nature—Mai blossoms, dragonflies, the morning
sun, drifting clouds—evokes emotions from within. This movement achieves a balance of emotions, a vibrancy for the sights, and a wist- ful nostalgia for childhood memories.
The vitality of creation and the harmony of the five elements (Ngũ Hành) are conveyed in Mai’s works through a symphony of colors and textures: the white of silver, the golden hues of brass, delicate gold leaf meticulously gilded onto hand-cast apricot blossoms, and the shimmering reds, yellows, and blues of dragonfly wings in flight. These elements paint a world uniquely her own. Alongside the masterful
craftsmanship of traditional artisans—embroiderers, jewelers, stonemasons, and hand-dyers—Mai creates a conversation with viewers through a dreamlike garden imbued with contemporary spirit. This is the endless inspiration that drives artist Mai Lâm: preserving the soul of Vietnam in each piece expressed through a unique language, a bold spirit, an innovative technique, and a singular artistic vision. The Mai Garden collection is a breathtaking masterpiece, meticulously crafted by 20 skilled Vietnamese artisans over 40,000 hours of dedicated work. Each intricate detail is fashioned from bronze and adorned with luxurious 24k gold plating, complemented by the radiant sparkle of precious natural stones. The surface features delicate organza silk, carefully tied and dyed with tea and coffee to create a soft, natural patina. The embroidery, woven with durable metallic threads, ensures longevity even under harsh weather conditions, while the delicate dragonfly accents are expertly crafted from metal wires, adding both elegance and resilience. A true fusion of artistry and opulence, this collection embodies timeless beauty and unparalleled craftsmanship.