Born in 1970 in Hanoi, Khiem graduated from the Printmaking Department of the Vietnam University of Fine Arts in 1997.

He is admired for his skillful ink works on Vietnamese traditional dzo paper. Inspired by both the controlled and intuitive nature of calligraphy, the fragility of dzo paper and the unexpected effect of ink spreading on the paper’s surface, Khiem often depicts women and dancers in their most graceful motions and postures.