ABOUT


Willie XAIWOUTH (b. 2001, Sainyabouli, Laos) is a multidisciplinary artist working across installation, painting, photography, animation, and performance. His practice explores the intersections of ecology, memory, identity and cultural transformation, often using organic and locally sourced materials. Through his work, he reflects on the relationship between human activity and the environment, connecting personal experience in Laos to broader global contexts.

He has been a member of Elevation Laos since 2019 and co-founded Lost Jigsaw in 2023, an initiative aimed at expanding the visibility of contemporary art in Laos. His works have been exhibited in Laos and internationally, including Thailand, Singapore, Japan, Vietnam, and the Philippines.


AWARDS 


2026   CREA - Special Mention for the Quality of Your Research / shortlist prize, Italy. 

2025   Laos PDR Prize Winner - 2025 MRLG Photography Compatition, Thailand.
2025   Art Prize award of Digicon 6 Asia in Laos.

2025   Winning the Dogma Prize Award 2025, Vietnam.

2024   Silver prize - UMENCIA Art Photo International photography, Canada.

2023   Third prize of video animation - Mekong ROK Video Contest, South Korea.

2023   Third prize - Urban Memories by the River Photo Contest", Singapore.

2022   Third prize - Mekong ROK Essay Contest(Photo), South Korea.


EXHIBITION


2026   What the Mekong Carries, Luang Prabang, Laos.

2026   Southeast Asia Queer Arts Justice Summit at Quezon city, Manila, Philippines.

2025   Reviving Nature at Studio 88, Chiang Mai, Thailand

2025   Dogma Prize Exhibition at Dogma collection, Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam.
2025   Mekong Regional Land Forum photos exhibition in Bangkok, Thailand.

2025   Fukuoka Asian Art Museum WINDS OF ARTIST IN RESIDENCE 2025 "Illuminate Our Life", Fukuoka, Japan.
2025   "Coexistence", Group of young generation artists exhibition, Vientiane.

2024   Lao Contemporary Art Exhibition at Vientiane.

2024   Raise - Lao Art Week, Vientiane.

2024   No river we cry - GMS Artist Residency at Ubon Rachathani, Thailand.

2024   Before birth and beyond death - Kenduri seni patani 2024 at patani, Thailand.

2024   One tribe and Piece of Banana collaboration with lost jigsaw and KULTX at Khon Kaen, Thailand.

2023   Group exhibition Lost Jigsaw, Vientiane.

2023   Value - Lao Art Week at Vientiane.

2023   When Spaces Matter for Artists, Lab De Lines, Vientiane.

2022   XYZ Contemporary Art Exhibition, Vientiane.

2022   Urban Memories by the River Photo Contest, Singapore.

2020   The Art Of Light Lao Contemporary Photography Exhibition, Vientiane.



RESIDENCIES 


2025   Reviving Nature at Studio 88, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

2025   Fukuoka Artist Residency, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Fukuoka, Japan.

2024  GMS Artist Residency in Chiang Rai, Chiang Rai and Ubon Rachathani province, Thailand.


GRANT AND FELLOWSHIP 

2025   Grant from Dogma collection and attend Dogma Prize Exhibition, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

2025   Mekong Cultural Hub to attend Meeting Point 2025 in Laos.

2024   Grant from the Elevations Laos to attend the 11th Asia Pacific Triennial Art exhibition in Australia.


FELLOWSHIP 


2025  Mekong Cultural Hub for the Meeting Point 2025 in topic "Economic empowerment through Creative Work" at Vientiane, Laos.

2022  Elevation Laos


PUBLICATION


2025  Dogma Prize Catalogue 2025

2025  Book cover - Art and Market 2025

2024  Hope - lao contemporary art exhibition catalogue