Quotable Del Mar: Dan “Nuge” Nguyen

“My work is about flow, energy, and human connection. It is because of these elements that I have a heavy emphasis for creating everything by hand. In a world where technology is integrated into every part of our lives feeding us instant gratification, there is a beauty to being able to produce something heartfelt with my hands.”

 

~Dan “Nuge” Nguyen

(from Artist Statement published by Not Real Art)

Left: Dan “Nuge” Nguyen with his artwork “Viper Pit.”  Right: Nuge with his artwork “Gold Rush.” Photos: Christian Ramirez.

Del Mar resident Dan Nguyen, also known as Nuge, turned a 2016 layoff from an architectural firm into an opportunity to pursue sculpture and art. “I gave myself 5 months to see if I could get the ball rolling in this new path… Thankfully, my journey in art has snowballed and there is no plan B anymore.” (RNLD Spring/Summer 24 issue).  His work has been exhibited at the Lancaster Museum of Art and History in L.A. County, at art galleries in La Jolla, San Francisco, Dallas, Whistler, Singapore and Atlanta, and commissioned by Tiffany & Co.