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Hso Hkam is a multidisciplinary artist based in Venice, California, where he weaves together the worlds of filmmaking, photography, painting, and drawing into a bold and immersive creative practice. Born in Yangon, Myanmar (also known as Burma), he is the 19th Saopha of Lawksawk (Shan prince), descending from a royal bloodline that stretches back to 1630. When the Burmese military regime seized power, the Hkam family became targets due to their aristocratic legacy. To avoid imprisonment or worse, they fled the country, ultimately receiving political asylum in the United States when Hso was just 11 years old.
Raised in a household steeped in intellect and culture, guided by Oxford-educated parents, Hso’s upbringing was one of profound curiosity and self-expression. A gifted student and athlete, he earned a tennis scholarship to the University of Illinois at Chicago before transferring to UCLA, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts. During this time, he became a member of the Zeta Psi Fraternity , balancing academia with camaraderie and creative exploration.
Hso has designed graphics for legendary Zephyr Skateboards, Venice Surf and Skate Association, capturing the raw energy and spirit of street culture. In cinema, his voice is equally powerful. His film - Ghostown and Ground Bloom Flower - have resonated with audiences on the festival circuit. Fightin'4 the Forty earned him the Audience Choice Award at the Malibu Film Festival, while History is Myth won best short film at the Other Venice Film Festival. That same year, he completed his first feature film Money - a gritty, unflinching directorial debut.
Over the years, Hso produced more than 100 thought-provoking video features and documentaries for LAWeekly , often spotlighting the unseen and underrepresented. The Association of Alternative Newsmedia awarded Theotis Beasley: Pro Skater, 1st place Short Form Documentary in 2018. That same year, Hsofilms • LA Weekly • Retrospective won Best feature Documentary Film at Santa Monica International Film Festival.
In 2022, his cinematic eye was tapped by global superstar Adele, as he served as her videographer, capturing intimate moments on tour across the United States and the United Kingdom.
Loyal to his Burmese heritage, Hso maintains his originality by living by the mantra expressed by his idol, Bruce Lee, “Always be yourself, always express yourself, and do not go out and look for a successful personality and duplicate it".
