Biography
Joseph Bui (he/him) is a Houston-based photographer and artist whose work spans editorial, documentary, and portraiture. His artistic practice is rooted in searching—for connection, for clarity, for the things he longs for but doesn’t always have: love, community, family, and “home.” While photography may not fulfill these desires, it allows him to give shape to longing, to process absence, and to express what remains unresolved.
Identifying as Vietnamese-American, Bui explores the intersections of identity, memory, and belonging. His work often takes the form of photographic artist books and intimate portrait series that investigate relationships between people and the environments they inhabit. Guided by active listening and observation, Bui's practice blends personal narrative with broader themes of connection and longing. His recent projects include documenting the Queer community in Waterville, Maine, and a deeply personal photo book and series on his own family titled I Love You. I Miss You. Have A Good Day.
Editorial and commercial clients include: Colby College, Colby Museum of Art, Houston Chronicle, Houston Landing, NPR, Texas Tribune, The Hechinger Report, The Houston Endowment, The Marshall Project, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post.
Currently, Joseph is pursuing an Master in Fine Arts degree in Photography and Digital Media from the University of Houston. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art: Photography from Colby College.
Contact
Available for commissions, assisting, licensing, print sales and exhibition requests, please contact:
Based: Houston, TX
Email: josephbuiphoto [at] gmail.com
Cell: (832) 359-4331
Solo Exhibition
2024 - Framing Kinship: Perspectives on Domestic Bonds, BOX13 ArtSpace, Houston, Texas
Selected Group Exhibitions
2025 - The Big Show, Lawndale Art Center, Houston, TX
2025 - UH School of Art Annual Student Exhibition, Baffler Art Museum, Houston, TX
2025 - Nothing Stable Under Heaven, Elgin Street Studios, University of Houston
2024 - Learning Curve 16, Houston Center of Photography, Houston, TX
2024 - RAÍCES, Casa Luz, Houston, Texas
2024 - “Portrait: Self and Others”, PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont
2023 - The Walter Hopps Zeitgeist Exhibition, Houston Center of Photography, Houston, TX
2023 - Have You Eaten: Meryenda, Kasama Space, Seattle, WA
2023 - Free Juice University Graduation Exhibition, POST Houston, Houston, TX
2023 - Contact: Making Images Using the Cyanotype Process, Fotofest, Houston, TX
2022 - Solidarity Street Gallery 2022, St. Paul, MN
2022 - Caregiving—Aging Well for All, NCOA Gallery, Arlington, VA
2022 - Senior Art Exhibition, Colby College Museum of Art, Waterville, ME
Public Collections
Colby College Special Collections & Archives
Rice University Woodson Research Center Special Collections & Archives
Publications
2023 - “Home is Where,” Float Magazine Zine
2022 - “I LOVE YOU. I MISS YOU. HAVE A GOOD DAY.”, Edition of 9, (Self-Published)
2021 - “Queer Journey,” (Self-Published)
Selected Awards and Residencies
2024 - Communication Arts 2024 Photography Shortlist: Unpublished
2024 - “On Communities” Houston Center of Photography & Magnum Photos (Yael Martínez)
2023 - Critical Mass 2023 Finalist, Photolucida
2023 - Develop 2023, Mentorship by Diversify Photo supported by Fujifilm
2023 - AI-AP - American Photography 39: CHOSEN Winner
2022 - Jim Dietz Award, Eddie Adams Workshop, Jeffersonville, New York
2022 - Finalist - Google Image Equity Fellowship
2022 - President’s Purchase Prize, Office of the President, Waterville, ME
2022 - Student Project Award - Finalist, Film Photo Award
2022 - The Artisan Scholarship Program: Class of 2021, SonyEDU
2018 - The Scholastic Art & Writing Gold Key Award, Houston, TX
2018 - Posse Foundation Full-Tuition Leadership, Houston, TX
Press
2024 - FLAT Files Issue 4, FLATS Film Lab, Houston, Texas
2022 - Featured, Deep Red Press, Fort Worth, Texas
2022 - Photographer Spotlight: Joseph Bui, BOOOOOOOM