b. 1950, Hanoi

Lê Đình Nghiên is considered the last and only artisan of Hang Trong folk painting. From his childhood, he followed his grandfather, artisan Lê Xuân Quế, and his father, artisan Lê Đình Liễu, to Hang Trong Street to make paintings, from which he learned all the techniques handed down from his father and grandfather. From 1973-2010, he worked on the restoration of folk paintings at the Museum of Fine Arts Vietnam, then continued his pursuit of practice and making Hang Trong paintings in his own artistic style. As the Hang Trong painting gradually faded, he still painstakingly painted, restored and brought these paintings to sell at Tet markets in order to preserve a traditional culture. Over his 50 years of work, he never stops sharpening techniques and improving the engraving moulds to create a personalised version of the Hang Trong folk paintings. He now lives and works at his home in Hoan Kiem District, Hanoi.