Milk Bottle Cafe

This drawing depicts the landmarked Milk Bottle Grocery Store along Route 66 in the present-day Asian District of Oklahoma City, OK. First opened in 1930, this triangular-shaped grocery, topped with its iconic milk bottle, has housed many businesses over the years—including Saigon Baguette in the 2010s—reflecting the neighborhood’s strong Vietnamese immigrant community, which grew after the Vietnam War. Today, many businesses along Route 66 are immigrant-owned and operated, continuing to embody the route’s role in fostering the American Dream.

This is one of my favorite drawings. The fall of Saigon created millions of refugees, many of whom endured perilous journeys on boats and time in refugee camps before immigrating to America. Their story of survival deeply resonates with me, reminding me of my father’s experience and motivating me to create art that inspires social change. Much of my work draws inspiration from powerful immigration stories like these.