Meet Zack Nguyen | Designer, Hybrid Artist & Educator

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

Hi Zack, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
I’m a Vietnamese-born American who grew up in many different cities and countries, always floating between places. I was raised by a single mom who’s also an artist, and watching her create with so much heart taught me that art isn’t just about expression—it’s about surviving with love and finding beauty in the hard stuff. I grew up surrounded by creativity and supported by a community that cheered me on. That helped me learn to move between different worlds—culturally, emotionally, and creatively. Now, I work as a designer, educator, and hybrid artist, using those worlds to explore how we remember, feel, and connect. I carry with me a love for quiet rituals and believe in the magic of visual experience and storytelling to bring people together.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It wasn’t easy. I started my journey as a product designer, focusing on healthcare. I held fellowships and worked with institutions like a member hospital of Johns Hopkins Medicine and the Center for BrainHealth. I loved the challenge of design thinking, especially when it came to improving real lives. But after a personal mental health crisis and an attempted suicide, I realized I needed to pause and truly heal. That’s when I discovered the power of expressive art therapy. Right after the pandemic, I decided to enroll in a master’s program in Arts and Technology, where I was able to explore performance, virtual world-building, and continue my research in neuroaesthetics—the study of how art affects the brain and emotions. It helped me understand how visual, sonic, and spatial experiences can create genuine emotional transformation.
Today, my art is a blend of performance, interactive media, and digital storytelling. I create immersive spaces, multimedia videos, and performances that explore identity, vulnerability, and the quiet power of interconnection. My practice is rooted in socially-engaged art, expressive art therapy, and healing. I often invite audiences into reflective, poetic moments shaped by slowness, sound, and movement. What sets my work apart is the way it bridges disciplines: design meets performance, science meets spirit.
If there’s one thing I want people to know, it’s that my story and my art are not about having the answers—they’re about embracing the unknown. My brand lives in the in-between: it welcomes change, honors chaos, and challenges the status quo. I believe beauty can be found in disorder, that healing can come through disruption, and that creativity is at its most powerful when it dares to shift, question, and evolve.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to visit, I’d show them just how much art Dallas has to offer. Because it’s honestly surprising in the best way. We’d start at Dallas Contemporary, then wander through the Arts District to visit the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, and Crow Museum. I’d take them to New Media Art Contemporary to chat with James because he always curates the most exciting art + tech events in town. For food, we’d grab a coffee/matcha at Juju’s Coffee for cozy vibes and great conversation. Hungry yet? I’d take them to have dinner at Ngon Vietnamese Bistro with my dear Carol Nguyen. One day, we’d road trip to Fort Worth to see The Modern, sip matcha at Cafe Momento, and end with wine at The Holly.
On one of those days that we need a break from gallery walls, we’ll head to Bonton Farms, hang out with the goats. Oh! A techno party hosted by my creative friends from TERMINAL (IG @terminal.tx) on the weekend would be very fun.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’m sitting quietly in my studio at night, inside the Goldmark Cultural Center, my little creative sanctuary, and I’m filled with gratitude. I want to dedicate this shoutout to all the artists here at Goldmark. Your presence, your work, and your energy keep my passion alive and remind me why I do what I do. To all my friends with side quests in every corner—different fields, different paths—but the same heart for community, thank you. You inspire me constantly. I believe in interbeing, in how we’re all deeply connected. So I know that my journey is not just my own—it’s woven with your support, your kindness, and your quiet encouragement along the way. You’ve all helped me become who I am, and I carry your light with me every day.
And a big, warm thank you to the curators who’ve believed in me and my sometimes chaotic, dreamy visions. And to all the amazing artists I’ve worked with in shows I’ve curated—thank you for saying yes, for trusting me, and for bringing your magic. Every show felt like a little adventure we created together, full of late-night texts, wild ideas, and so much heart. I couldn’t have done it without you.

Website: https://zacknguyen.art/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itszacknguyen

Image Credits
Portrait of Zack Nguyen by Diane Durant. Other images courtesy of the artist.