Vicky Vuong

Vicky Vuong is a Canadian sneaker artist and former scientist who specializes in custom hand-painted footwear. She transitioned from a career in materials engineering to establishing her art practice, Cestlavic, where she creates wearable designs and collaborates with brands and public figures​​.

Early life

Vuong was born in Canada to Chinese immigrant parents​​. She completed her undergraduate studies in molecular biology and later pursued a master's degree in materials engineering​. Her upbringing emphasized a strong work ethic, though she expressed concern about disappointing her parents by not adhering to traditional career paths​​.

During her master's studies, Vuong began exploring her artistic interests. On a family vacation, she customized a pair of sneakers using fabric markers, which reignited her creativity and initiated her interest in sneaker art​​.

Career

In 2014, Vuong sold her first pair of custom sneakers while balancing her art with her scientific career​. Initially operating out of her basement apartment, she gradually built a clientele and gained attention online for her designs​. Her side business eventually gained enough traction that in 2020 she transitioned to full-time sneaker artistry, establishing her company Cestlavic​​.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vuong leveraged social media to share her creative process and interact with a global audience​. She collaborated with brands such as Froot Loops and worked with clients including athletes like Cooper Kupp and public figures like Viola Davis​​. Her sneakers have been displayed in a Toronto museum.

Vuong co-founded a studio in San Francisco with fellow sneaker artist Ann Duskus in 2021. They equipped the space as a workshop and content creation studio​. Vuong co-hosts the podcast Best Foot Forward, where she discusses challenges faced by artists in the sneaker industry​.