Noodle House - Exhibitions - Asian Art Museum

Noodle House

Nov 6, 2026 – Nov 29, 2027

Lui Art Wall

A humble ingredient becomes a vibrant symbol of shared heritage, culture, and community.

Commissioned by the Asian Art Museum for the Lawrence and Gorretti Lui Hyde Street Art Wall, Thien Pham’s Noodle House celebrates diversity and deep connections through the universal language of food.

“I chose the humble noodle because it reflects the many cultures represented in our community,” says Pham. “Each unique noodle dish carries its own traditions, memories, stories, and sense of home, while this ubiquitous ingredient ties us together. Noodle House honors and celebrates where we come from, where we are, what we share, and the new traditions we create together.”

By centering food as a bridge between past and present, Noodle House invites passersby to reflect on their own culinary traditions and the shared experiences that bind us together.

About the Artist

Thien Pham (b. 1975) is an Oakland-based graphic novelist, illustrator, and educator. His graphic novel “Family Style: Memories of an American from Vietnam” is a poignant memoir detailing his family’s immigration to America through the lens of memorable meals. Pham is also the illustrator behind KQED’s James Beard–nominated food series “Midnight Diners.”

Top image: Noodle House (detail), 2026, by Thien Pham (b. 1975). Commissioned by the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. © Thien Pham. Photograph courtesy of the artist.

Organizers & Supporters

About the Lawrence and Gorretti Lui Hyde Street Art Wall

Noodle House is the fifth commission for the Lawrence and Gorretti Lui Hyde Street Art Wall, a 7-by-40-foot site on the exterior of the Akiko Yamazaki and Jerry Yang Pavilion. The Lui Art Wall is a prominent venue to recognize local talent, address the Asian American experience, and raise issues relevant to our neighbors — from immigrant traditions to concepts of sanctuary — through an ongoing series of commissioned works primarily by Bay Area Asian American artists.

Curated by Naz Cuguoglu, assistant curator of contemporary art. 