DAN "NUGE" NGUYEN

Artist Statement

My artistic practice explores the relationship between structure and fluidity. Working primarily with wood, I create sculptures that challenge the traditional expectations of the material while preserving its natural warmth and tactility. These works are visually layered, combining color and organic form into unified compositions. Alongside wood, I often incorporate materials such as concrete, ceramics, and felted wool to expand the conversation between texture, weight, and balance.

My process grew from my background in architecture and from a desire to move beyond its rigid frameworks. After several years in an architectural firm, I found myself drawn to a more hands-on and intuitive creative process. What began with simple wooden cutting boards evolved into fully realized sculptural forms. Through this work, I aim to reveal new possibilities within familiar materials, highlighting the quiet strength and natural beauty that wood has always held.

Biography

I am a self-taught sculptor working with wood, concrete, ceramics, and wool. Born in Saskatchewan, Canada, raised in Boston, Massachusetts, and now based in California, I originally trained as an architect before finding my true path in art. I received my Masters in Architecture from Roger Williams University in Rhode Island in 2012.

My parents immigrated to the United States from Vietnam in search of a better life and the chance to build something lasting for our family. They worked hard to create opportunities for my sister and me, believing deeply in the value of education and giving back to society. Their courage and sacrifices gave me the freedom to explore a life in art which might not have been possible if our family had remained in Vietnam. My sense of gratitude and purpose continues to shape how I see the world and the work I create.

I began my professional art career in 2016 and have since developed a practice that reflects both rebellion and reverence for my architectural background. My work explores the tension between structure and fluidity, between the heavy and the delicate, the rigid and the organic. Through these contrasts, I’ve found a way to express appreciation for materials and forms that are not often brought together in traditional settings.