Ku Paw

Saw Lah Ku Paw was born and raised in Myanmar, where he lived peacefully with his family. When the civil war escalated, burning the neighboring villages, he escaped to a refugee camp at 15 years old. He would spend more than ten years living in a refugee camp. In the midst of all the chaos, it was there that he discovered his lifelong passion for art. 

Ku Paw had always loved drawing. In the refugee camps, he met an art teacher who helped his love for art grow and his skills develop. He was taught art in high school and after graduating, continued seeking out teachers so he could learn more. One well-known teacher (Thara Kennedy) taught him how to paint portraits. Ku Paw was deeply inspired by his teacher’s work. He remembers seeing a painting that felt so real to him that he wanted to create his own portraits that captured a similar feeling. 

For Ku Paw, art is more than something to look at. It is a way to tell the stories of his people. His goal is to make art that his people can recognize as their own. Much of his work focuses on Karen people and landscapes, which he sees as artifacts of Karen culture. His paintings show experiences of hardships as well as moments of joy, with each painting telling the story of its subjects. 

He describes art as being “as precious as gold.” Art is useful and has different purposes, that is why it is precious. “My heart has always centered on art, nothing else,” he says. He values the solitude and quietness that making art requires. “I am always happy when I am making art/painting.” His favorite art is realistic portraits, although he has also painted many landscapes. Through both, he has found a way to preserve the people, places, and experiences that are important to him. 

When Ku Paw was 22 years old, he resettled alone in Tennessee. His wife and children stayed behind in the refugee camp. During his initial years in Tennessee, continuing art became more and more difficult. His goal was to paint and learn more skills, and he even had his art displayed in a gallery. However, the transition brought new challenges. Ku Paw faced a language barrier and had to learn how to understand a new culture and communicate in a new language. The education he received in the refugee camps did not prepare him to be successful in the United States, so he felt he had to relearn everything. On top of it all, he had been resettled alone, and it became increasingly difficult to pursue art full time as he had to take care of his basic needs. He stopped making art to work a full-time job and pay the bills. 

A couple of years later, his wife and children moved to Tennessee. With the responsibility of taking care of his family, the freedom he once had to freely make art was no longer the same. In 2025, his family moved to Minnesota. His wife’s family lived there and encouraged them to move because there was a bigger Karen community and thus, more support. 

In Minnesota, he noticed that many Karen people did not understand art or its importance because they did not know how to make a living from it. They saw art as something you do for fun or as a pastime. To help change this understanding, Ku Paw started an art club. The intention behind the art club was to teach younger artists the skills he had learned so they can work together to make more art for their community. The club still meets two times a week and it is a space for young arts to learn, practice, and understand the value of art. He also wants to teach stakeholders and community organizations how they can work together to support artists. 

“When there is artwork of our people and our experiences, it brings awareness,” he states. Organizations can purchase his pieces and use them to teach the public about the Karen community. He wants people to understand the cost of a painting reflects the time, material, and skill that go into creating it. The more people are educated about the value of art, the more they can take ownership and make a career out of it. 

For Ku Paw, continuing to make art is not always easy. Being a father means compromising his free time to care for his children. Still, he believes artists must keep trying and not give up. Art is a commitment. Some people spend over ten years learning how to perfect their craft. He started drawing when he was around 12 years old and has continued into his 40s.

“For the rest of my life, regardless if it’s hard or easy, or if I am wealthy or poor, I have chosen this path. I will see it through to the end.”

His dream is to open an established studio for young Karen artists to learn and create their craft. He wants to build a place where young artists can develop their skills and create work for their community. One of his proudest pieces is a recreation of a photograph of a Karen family running from war, and hiding out in the jungle. Through similar paintings like these, Ku Paw keeps the experience of his people alive. “I am happy the work can learn about the Karen people through my paintings,” he says.

For Ku Paw, art is a way to preserve culture, tell stories, create awareness, and connect generations. His journey has not been easy, but he has chosen to continue. His message is: “We should be proud to be Karen and the work that we do.”