Meet Dan Lam | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dan Lam and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dan, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
When I became a full-time artist, I had the flexibility to organize my day as I wanted. I chose to prioritize the essentials: ample sleep, regular exercise, and healthy eating. These are non-negotiable for me as they form the cornerstone of my creativity and mental acuity.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I feel incredibly blessed to have found my path in creating art. Making art feels natural and authentic to me, like the language I’m meant to use to express and connect with others. All the major decisions in my adult life have revolved around this calling. It seems to me that the greater risk would be to ignore this instinct if you’re aware of what you’re meant to do.

I pursued fine art in my studies and earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in painting and drawing. After completing grad school in 2015, I made the decision to start sharing my work on Instagram. This was a way for me to hold myself accountable for creating new pieces and to connect with a community of artists and art enthusiasts. The timing was crucial, and my work gained significant traction. I began exhibiting in galleries more frequently and making direct sales. By 2016, I was able to become a full-time artist. There were challenging times, especially early on, as there was no predefined path for this kind of career, and seeking advice from others wasn’t always feasible. I learned to trust my intuition and embraced the opportunity to learn from any mistakes I made. It’s been incredibly rewarding to create art and share it with the world.

Maintaining a healthy work-life balance has always been important to me. However, after a series of consecutive shows and projects last year, I took a step back to reflect on why I was pushing myself so hard, possibly to the point of burnout. As a result, for 2024, I’ve decided not to pursue any solo gallery exhibitions. Instead, I’m giving myself the time and space to play, experiment, and enjoy both my work and personal life.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of my favorite outdoor activities is trail skating on the AT&T Trail to Trinity Forest Trail. It’s quiet and lush, and you are in the forest most of the time, surrounded by trees. You will also cross the Dallas Audubon Center, which is beautiful. Another favorite is walking the Trinity Corridor Trail by Margaret Hunt Bridge. The marshlands are gorgeous, and the downtown cityscape makes it a really pretty way to see Dallas.

For indoor activities, I’d take them to Meow Wolf Grapevine for the entire amazing installation and my piece, Macrodose. I’d also take them to Activate, which is a gaming facility that has different physical and mental games. Of course, it wouldn’t be a trip to Dallas with me if we didn’t see the DMA and Nasher Sculpture Center.

We’d probably spend a whole day doing the antique malls and estate sales. I’m still dipping my toe into antiquing, but I love Forestwood Antique Mall. I’d also like to take them shopping at the Scent Room in West Village for a fun olfactory experience.

If the friend has never been to Dallas, I’d take them on a drive through some of the neighborhoods like Preston Hollow or Highland Park, just to see the gorgeous houses.

For food, the first stop is Koryo Korean BBQ – the meat is so good, and they cook it for you at the table. I’d also make reservations for a special sushi dinner at the coveted Tatsu. For something more casual, I’d go from Dallas to Garland and take them to Bistro B for Vietnamese cuisine or Pho Bang for the best pho. And, of course, desserts! I’m very fond of Reverie in Richardson, a fully vegan bakery (I’m lactose intolerant). For boba, it’s hands down Tiger Sugar in Carrollton.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Jessica McCambly, my drawing professor at UNT, played a pivotal role in shaping my academic path. When I first entered college, my major was in Communication Design. Despite feeling that it wasn’t the right fit for me, I pushed through. However, Jessica recognized my potential and advised me to pursue Studio Art instead. Her confidence in my abilities provided the encouragement I needed to make the switch, ultimately setting me on the path to where I am today.

Website: bydanlam.com

Instagram: @sopopomo

Image Credits
Kevin Todora Swoon Studio