On July 27th, Lao Minnesotan Artist Mali Kouanchao celebrated her birthday.

Born in 1971, she and her family came to Minnesota to rebuild their lives. A recipient of numerous awards for her art and leadership, her life served as the basis for the 2010 children’s book Mali Under the Night Sky by Youme Landowne. Also a Lao entrepreneur behind Cool Jerk beef jerky and other ventures, she is currently at work on her latest series Displacement II: Never Free examining the plight of Cambodian and Southeast Asian American deportees.

Be dijai, to live.
Make a life interesting?
Listen to our heart.

-Bryan Thao Worra