Brief

Anh Duong shifts from supermodel to painter, shows work in France

The former runway star says painting gave her a voice beyond beauty, with shows in Cabourg and a Dolce & Gabbana traveling exhibition.

By Felo News Desk · Published Thu, 15 Oct 2026 20:14:48 GMT

Former Saint Laurent model Anh Duong, who rose to fame in the early 1990s, has transitioned to a career as a painter, with her work now on display at the Villa du Temps retrouvé in Cabourg, France, and in a traveling Dolce & Gabbana exhibition.

What happened

Duong, born to a Spanish mother and Vietnamese father and raised in France, began modeling after being discovered by photographer David Seidner for a Saint Laurent ad. She later posed for iconic photographers such as Herb Ritts, Peter Lindbergh and Steven Meisel, and became a muse for designer Christian Lacroix. In the early 1990s she painted her first self‑portrait, which she says unlocked a new part of herself. Since then she has focused on portraiture, exhibiting at galleries including Sperone Westwater and Tony Shafrazi, and now has paintings in a museum‑level venue in Cabourg and in the traveling show “From the Heart to the Hands: Dolce & Gabbana.”

What the reports add

Elle notes that Duong’s shift was unusual at the time because the art world was dominated by men and skeptical of a former model entering high‑end painting. She also points out that Duong continues to work in fashion, appearing in a major MAC beauty campaign and slated for the upcoming sixth season of Emily in Paris. The article highlights how her ballet background informs her artistic style, emphasizing movement and facial expression.

What was said

Duong told Elle, “In the ’90s, the art world was mostly men. An ex‑model doing it, it was almost like, ‘Oh my God, how dare you.’” She added, “I know what it’s like to be in front of the camera, because I did pose myself…Portraiture is extremely intimate. In life, words are used to stop being too close, but if you spend time staring at someone with no words, the silence is very intimate.” She also reflected on a 1991 Gap ad that read “Anh Duong, artist,” calling it a turning point that “shifted the view of beauty and brains, beauty and talent.”

How it came about

Duong’s early career as a ballerina led to her discovery by Seidner, and her subsequent modeling work gave her insight into the visual language of fashion. The confidence to paint herself emerged after years of being a muse, allowing her to reverse the gaze. Her recent exhibitions demonstrate how the blend of fashion, dance and painting has created a distinctive abstraction that critics have begun to recognize.

Key facts

Anh Duong was a Saint Laurent model in the early 1990s before becoming a painter. (elle.com)
Her paintings are on display at the Villa du Temps retrouvé in Cabourg, France. (elle.com)
She is featured in a traveling Dolce & Gabbana exhibition titled “From the Heart to the Hands.” (elle.com)
Duong appeared in a MAC beauty campaign and will appear in season six of Emily in Paris. (elle.com)
She says painting gave her a voice beyond the beauty expectations of the 1990s art world. (elle.com)