In Fort Worth’s abundant art scene, artist and educator Anna Joy Pham stands out as a master of visual storytelling. Her paintings weave narratives of self-discovery, inviting viewers to explore their own inner worlds.

Destined for a life of creativity, Pham grew up writing stories, playing instruments, taking photos, and drawing portraits. She went on to study visual communications at the University of Texas Arlington, leading to an eight-year career in graphic design and art direction. Pham’s path took an unexpected turn when she discovered her passion for working with children, guiding her to her current role as an art teacher at Fort Worth’s Trimble Technical High School.

This year, Anna Joy Pham was selected as a Carter Community Artist at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. This prestigious program recruits four local artists annually to spearhead community educational events.

It wasn’t until a couple of years ago, when faced with her divorce and the loss of her father, that Pham turned to paint brush and canvas to process her pain. Since then, her emotionally resonant paintings have gained significant recognition in the fine art world. She has exhibited at Arts Fort Worth, 400h Gallery in Sundance Square and 500X Gallery in Dallas.

This year, Pham was selected as a Carter Community Artist at the Amon Carter Museum of American Art. This prestigious program recruits four local artists annually to spearhead community educational events, fostering a connection between Fort Worth residents and practicing artists that deepens engagement with the city’s dynamic arts scene. Despite initial doubts about being a relatively novice painter, Pham’s educational expertise and artistic prowess have proven invaluable to the program.

“It’s about being willing to be intentional and engage your community,” she says. “That’s what really matters.”

As a Carter Community Artist, Pham leads workshops for people of all ages — from toddlers to adults — each inspired by a specific artwork from the museum’s collection. She carefully selects pieces that resonate with her own work, highlighting the bridge between the Carter’s collection and her personal artistic journey.

Though she diligently plans each lesson, Pham’s workshops prioritize play. Above all, she encourages participants to release perfection and express themselves freely through their creations.

Pham’s artwork, which at first glance bursts with vibrant colors and whimsical patterns, reveals darker undertones upon closer inspection — painted rips in the canvas, drowning imagery, and hints of decay, to name a few. Her largely autobiographical body of work chronicles her journey through loss, grief, and healing — acknowledging darkness, yet crafting beauty from sorrow. “It’s me grieving and finding hope that things are getting better and the pain is worth it,” she explains.

In a self-portrait, a pair of small hands reach toward Pham. Initially meant to represent her daughter, the hands ultimately evolved to symbolize her own inner child. “I realized I was healing the child in me that needed a safe place,” Pham says.

She recently revisited another piece depicting two starkly contrasting houses — one bright and warm and the other ominous and eerie — representing the rift between herself and her ex-husband.

In the new version, Pham painted over the foreboding house to reveal herself entering what appears to be a portal to another dimension, transitioning to a new life.

“I had to choose myself and trust that I would have a better story,” she reflects as she studies her work.

When tackling a new piece, Pham begins with a loose idea, then lets the canvas guide her — never sketching anything before she begins painting. She describes her approach as a dialogue between her emotions and the emerging work, simultaneously honoring her voice and listening to what the piece is trying to say.

“It’s healing for me, and I know it can also heal others who’ve experienced similar things,” she adds.

Looking ahead, Pham is excavating new themes in her work. Maintaining her abstract and dream-like style, she’s exploring Western motifs and landscapes as she delves into her identity as an Asian American living in Texas. Her next ambition is to merge her passions for creative writing, painting, and illustration into a visual poetry book, producing a more linear, narrative version of her journey.

Through her roles as a Carter Community Artist and a high school teacher, Pham’s primary goal is to help others find healing, growth, and self-expression through creative outlets.

“I’m teaching art, but ultimately, I’m teaching people about themselves,” she says. “If they leave knowing themselves better, I’ve done what I needed to help them in their lives.”