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Ken Tutjamnong was born in Bangkok, Thailand on February 27,
1968. Growing up in the picturesque mountains north of
Bangkok gave Ken a taste for art as a young man. A world of
natural beauty surrounded him and soon engulfed his heart,
mind and soul. Ken brought those feelings and beauty to
canvas and paper through the brush in his right hand.
Committed to the art within himself, Ken attended the
college of fine arts at Silpakorn University in Bangkok,
Thailand. He capitalized on that commitment as a young man
skillfully earning his Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts,
Painting in 1992.
With his education behind him and the desire to paint still
burning within, Ken began in earnest his career as an
artist. Working days as a waiter, then eventually gaining
the status of chef, gave him enough funds to procure the
necessary materials to perform his passion of painting at
night. It was not unusual for Ken to work 10-12 hours during
the day, then paint in to the wee hours of the early
morning, only to wake up and do it again the next day.
The efforts began to pay off as evidenced by invitations to
select exhibitions such as Silpakorn art exhibits from
1993-1996, the landscape painting exhibitions 1 & 2 in 1995
and 1996, then the OGV contemporary art exhibition in 1997.
By the time Ken left Thailand to come to America in 1997, he
had earned the recognition and satisfaction he so greatly
desired and revered. |
Ken as a young
artist in Thailand
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The pursuit of self-discovery is endless.
Sometimes, it becomes a struggle. People keep
searching for happiness, unconsciously engender
distress, I realize that happiness sometimes can
be found in a place so close to yourself that you
have overlooked. Painting, as I have forgotten
about it, is a way to happiness and a good
activity to exercise the brain.
Visual art is a specific language that can be
well communicated from heart to heart. Unlike
the language of visual arts, a language of
letters can only impart basic knowledge of arts.
It cannot help people engage and appreciate the
value of arts.
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Ken Tutjamnong came to America in mid 1997. Following his
successful working habits from Thailand, Ken went to work as
a waiter and chef in his family’s restaurant business
located in Cherry Hill, NJ. Again, after his daytime duties,
Ken went home to paint into the night.
Ken married in 2000 to the love of his life, Nan. Nan was
and remains a strong supporter of Ken’s artistic endeavors.
An accomplished Thai chef herself, her ambition was to open
a restaurant in the U.S. Ken and Nan realized that dream in
2005 with the opening of
The Smile Café in Philadelphia
at
105 South 22nd St.
During working hours (6 days a week) Ken
Waits the tables and assists Nan in the kitchen. Together
they've proved to be successful.
Meanwhile Ken continued to paint and show his pieces at art
shows in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area. He quietly
but quickly gained a loyal following for his art work.
Repeat customers (many times over) look for Ken during the
visits to these local shows and exhibitions. As Ken will
tell you, “The money is ok, but the smiles from my fans is
what makes me happy.”
Ken will stay busy in 2007. He has ten shows already booked
in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. He is likely
to add more to his 2007 agenda. You can find his
schedule,
which is updated regularly, here on the website.
Without question though, Ken’s biggest thing going on in
2007 is the opening of his gallery, The
Smile Café and Gallery in Center City, Philadelphia –
located at 105 South 22nd St. in the French quarter
district.
Ken’s gallery is
directly above the restaurant he and Nan operate 6 days a
week.
A March 9th, 2007 grand opening is scheduled and Ken
welcomes you then and anytime. Aside from Ken’s work,
various artists will be featured monthly. Please visit
The Smile Café and Gallery
when you’re in town. Ken looks forward to meeting you.
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