Ma Ly is a self-taught professional painter and art instructor. He lived in France for 32 years before settling in Fresno in 2008. He is the owner of Ma Ly Atelier and also teaches art at Fresno Adult School. Since 2013, Ma has been an artistic director on The Art of Life project, which pairs cancer survivors with local artists to learn expression and healing though art. The human element is at the core of Ma's work, through portraiture and narrative paintings. His notable portraits include General Vang Pao, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and most recently, Fresno activist Betty Rodriguez. From his strong involvement in the local art scene, teaching was a logical outcome. While sharing his technical knowledge, Ma teaches his students self-expression and confidence.