ARTISTS TO KNOW: VANESSA NGUYEN
VANESSA NGUYEN
Born and raised in NYC, Vanessa Nguyen is a Vietnamese-American illustrator and designer. Vanessa’s work focuses on their Vietnamese upbringing and how we can bond cross-culturally over food, cheeky designs, generational healing, and self-awareness. By staying true to their personal journey and through relatable storytelling, Vanessa’s art inspires us to be real with ourselves and each other.
SHEER: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
VANESSA NGUYEN: Hi! I’m Vanessa, a NYC born and raised Vietnamese-American illustrator + designer! I currently freelance as a graphic designer at the moment and live in Brooklyn. I’m non-binary and use she/her and they/them pronouns. I love frogs and my favorite anime is Fooly Cooly.
SHEER: How would you say your upbringing in NY and family culture influenced your journey to becoming an artist?
VN: I grew up in Brooklyn’s Chinatown so I feel lucky enough to have been in an environment where Asian heritage and culture was celebrated by my peers around me. That and being surrounded by many different people and being thrown into a fast-paced living environment helped me get used to the chaotic life of a freelancer. Moving briefly to Long Island in my teens was a shocker to me, since it seemed so sheltered and there were much more white people than there were POC in my high school. It makes me thankful to have been raised in a diverse environment that, unknown to me at the time, would nourish works of art exploring my identity. Neither of my parents had creative hobbies so the thought of me pursuing a creative career definitely worried them for a bit. There was a lot of pushback, especially in a first-generation household where the parents would like you to have a more lucrative career. Art really was the only thing I was good at and wanted to do, and here I am! I think over time they came to understand and support more of my work.
SHEER: What inspires the themes and subjects of your artwork?
VN: Much of my work is based on my cultural identity growing up in a first-generation Vietnamese household. A huge theme throughout my pieces is food, that’s what connects me to other people and vice-versa! When you’re introduced to another culture it’s usually through food. Craving my mom’s homemade pho, the smell of the incense being burned to pray to our ancestors, the Viet drama shows blasting from the tv, the freshly cut fruit after every meal - all of that is in my mind as I draw new pieces.
SHEER: What led you to illustrating children's books?
VN: Haha my book “How Do You Say Your Last Name?” was intended to be an adult coloring book, but I’ve noticed that many adults actually buy it to gift to their children. Which was shocking to me since I used the visual language of a children’s coloring book to address the feelings of a first-gen born Asian-American that was accumulated over 22 years of my life (vs… a 7-year-old comprehending it haha). That was my BFA thesis at SUNY Purchase, I actually thought I wouldn’t do another children’s book related thing up until a year after. I did a short children’s story in BANANA Mag’s Issue 05. There’s just so much beauty through storytelling on a subject where both children and adults can grasp the concept. I have not done another project like that since, but when people ask me what I would be doing if I didn’t have to worry about money as a job I always say I would illustrate children’s books (but honestly illustrating a book is stressful so maybe not anymore hehe).
“ A huge theme throughout my pieces is food, that’s what connects me to other people and vice-versa! When you’re introduced to another culture it’s usually through food. Craving my mom’s homemade pho, the smell of the incense being burned to pray to our ancestors, the Viet drama shows blasting from the tv, the freshly cut fruit after every meal - all of that is in my mind as I draw new pieces.”
SHEER: In what ways do you believe your creative expression has evolved over time?
VN: I think social media played a huge part in my creative process/expression. I was so obsessed with comparing myself to other artists and turning myself into a brand. A brand meaning churning out piece after piece for my followers to be engaged and it would be very tiring and I would churn out work that I wasn’t proud of all for the sake of a post. I’ve since learned that I am a human and to go at my own pace.
SHEER: How does your art address personal identity and empowerment?
VN: Over the pandemic, I’ve discovered that I’m non-binary and have been making artwork exploring that side of my identity. I find that even the smallest exploration through any medium that explores a part of yourself that you haven’t quite nourished yet is so rewarding. Using your own mediums to keep discovering and developing the best self that you can be is wonderful and I would encourage anyone to do so.
SHEER: Where do you feel the most inspired to create?
VN: Oddly enough it's when I venture out alone! Haha, whenever I feel uninspired I like to take myself out. I relish going to the movies, concerts, or maybe even museums alone. There is just something so intimate about taking the time for myself to enjoy art that will also help me think of new ways I can work whatever I just saw into my art. There was one time I went to a midnight screening of Paprika (dir. Satoshi Kon) alone while high, and it was a rewarding experience! Hehe.
“I was so obsessed with comparing myself to other artists and turning myself into a brand. A brand meaning churning out piece after piece for my followers to be engaged and it would be very tiring and I would churn out work that I wasn’t proud of all for the sake of a post. I’ve since learned that I am a human and to go at my own pace.”
SHEER: What lasting impact do you hope people take away from your art?
VN: A common response I’ve gotten to my art is “that’s so cute!” and “omg I relate to this!”. Which is actually what I’d like to hear. There’s a sense of cheekiness that I add to my art where I hope people would find it cute. I also love it when people resonate with my art, whether it be through a dish that they’ve eaten, cultural element, or they just love bright and cute things. My main message through all of these things is that I want people to feel when looking at my work: never be ashamed of who you are!
