Danh Vo examines how cultural values, conflicts and traumas are constructed and inherited through work inspired both by his own experiences as well as historical and political events. When he was a child, Vo’s family fled Vietnam and settled in Denmark. His family’s assimilation to European culture and the political events that precipitated their flight from Vietnam are intertwined in his artistic practice; Vo’s work illuminates the interwoven strands of private experience and collective history that shape our sense of self. Using both historically rich readymade objects and personal details that directly and indirectly touch on his own life experiences, Vo examines the larger implications how meaning changes with context, as well as how objects accumulate symbolic weight.

Danh Vo studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Denmark and the Hochschule für Bildende Künste Städelschule, Frankfurt. In 2007 he received the BlauOrange Kunstpreis der Deutschen Volksbanken und Raiffeisenbanken and in 2012 he was the winner of the Hugo Boss Prize. In 2015, Danh Vo represented Denmark at the Venice Biennale and was the curator of the exhibition Slip of the Tongue at the Punta della Dogana, Pinault Collection, Venise.

His most important solo exhibitions were held in the following institutions: Secession, Vienna (2021); Nivaagaard Art Collection, Niva (2020); M+, West Kowloon, Hong Kong (2019); CAPC, Bordeaux (2018); Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York (2018; 2013); Museo Nacional Centro de Art Reina Sofia, Palacio de Cristal, Madrid (2015); Faurschou Foundation, Beijing (2014); Public Art Fund, New York (2014); Villa Medici, Rome (2013); Museion Foundation, Bolzano (2013); The Art Institute of Chicago (2012); Kunsthaus Bregenz, Bregenz (2012); Fridericianum, Kassel (2011); Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen (2010); Kadist Foundation, Paris (2009); Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (2008).

Moreover, his work has been included in group exhibitions at institutions such as the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis (2018;2017; 2016; 2013); Kunstmuseum Basel, Gegenwart (2013); New Museum, New York (2012); Kunsthaus Bregenz, Bregenz (2011); GAM Galleria Civica di Arte Moderna e Contemporanea, Turin (2011); Kunsthalle Basel, Basel (2010); Center for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam (2009); Hamburger Bahnhof Museum für Gegenwart, Berlin (2009); Kunstverein München, München (2008); Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (2008); CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco (2007).

He has been invited to participate in several international manifestations such as the Venice Biennale, Venice (2019 ; 2013); Triennale di Milano, Milano (2017); Sharjah Biennial, Sharjah (2015); Berlin Biennale, Berlin (2014; 2010); Shanghai Biennale, Shanghai (2012); Shenzen Sculpture Biennale, Shenzen (2012); Busan Biennale, Busan (2008); Yokohama Triennale, Yokohama (2008); U-Turn Quadrennial for Contemporary Art, Copenhagen (2008); Manifesta 7, Bolzano (2008).

Works by the artist are held in the following collections: Sifang Art Museum, Nanjing; Statens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen; Faurschou Foundation, New York; Kadist Foundation, Paris; Fond National d’Art Contemporain, Paris; Musée National d'Art Moderne, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris; Boros Collection, Berlin; Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, Stuttgart; M+, Hong Kong; The Israel Museum, Jerusalem; Museion Foundation, Bolzano; Colección Jumex, Mexico City; Colección Isabel y Agustín Coppel, Mexico; Serralves Foundation, Porto; Mathaf, Arab Museum of Modern Art, Doha; Kunstmuseum Basel, Basel; Kunsthaus Zürich, Zürich; David Roberts Foundation, London; Magasin III, Stockholm; Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York; Aspen Art Museum, Aspen; Pérez Art Museum Miami; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco; Rubell Collection, Miami; Tate, London; Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York.