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Monirith Chhea

b. 1960

Cambodian artist

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About Monirith Chhea

Born 1960. Monirith Chhea is a Cambodian artist.

Monirith Chhea (born 1960s) is a Cambodian- American visual artist from Phnom Penh. He is cited as one of the notable Cambodian-American artists who has worked with charcoal. The Art and Culture Program of Sido mentions Chhea as an example of Khmer art along with Narath Tan, Svay Pithoubandith and Emmanuel Nhean. In 2010 he appeared in the documentary Rain Falls from Earth: Surviving Cambodia's Darkest Hour, a grim account of those who fled Cambodia during the Khmer Rouge.

Biography Facing starvation and torture from the Khmer Rouge, by the age of ten he separated from his family in a labor camp and later in a refugee camp in Thailand. Eventually he came to live in California whilst his family immigrated to Canada. He began a career as an artist as a way to deal with his suffering. His paintings and drawings generally symbolize negative themes such as starvation, sickness, and death.

One of his early charcoal drawings, Childhood, completed in 1988, is of faceless Khmer Rouge soldier, represented as a demon-like figure. Another larger oil painting, Boys in the Field, completed in 1991, depicts starved young boys working as slaves, struggling to carry heavy bags of rice. The blue sky and the large palm trees in the background represent hope.

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Important facts

Born
1960
Birth century
Occupation
Nationality

People in Monirith Chhea's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Monirith Chhea's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Monirith Chhea?

Cambodian artist

When was Monirith Chhea born?

Monirith Chhea was born in 1960.

What is Monirith Chhea's occupation?

Monirith Chhea is an artist.

What nationality is Monirith Chhea?

Monirith Chhea is Cambodian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Monirith Chhea

· Wikidata: Q6900413

· DBpedia: Monirith Chhea

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Monirith Chhea. https://biography.guide/monirith-chhea/

MLA: "Monirith Chhea." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/monirith-chhea/.

Chicago: "Monirith Chhea." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/monirith-chhea/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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