Vanessa “Nessa” Nguyễn is a Vietnamese-American illustrator & designer born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.
Nessa’s work focuses on their Vietnamese upbringing and how we can bond cross-culturally over food, cheeky designs, intergenerational healing, and self-awareness. By staying true to their personal journey growing up in a first-generation immigrant household, Nessa’s relatable storytelling inspires us to be real with ourselves and each other by exploring themes of diaspora, playfulness, and vulnerability. In their spare time, they can be found scouring Chinatown for the tastiest dumpling deals.
Based in NYC—b. Sunset Park, Brooklyn
☆ Year of the Pig
★ Scorpio Stellium
☆ Allergic to most stone fruit
★ Huge fan of spicy broth
They also have experience with working on different internal brand teams for DTC/CPG products as well as a history of working with clients who advocate for diverse voices within the Asian-American community. Selected clients include Soko Glam, Dr. Martens, TUSHY, Hulu, Everpress, Lunar Hard Seltzer, Pearl River Mart, Think!Chinatown, A+A+A, Wing On Wo & Co., Soar Over Hate, Đi Ăn Đi, 886, Win Son, Bonnie’s, Jeju Noodle Bar, Viet Rainbow Orange County, Artbean Coffee, Banana Mag, Slant’d Mag and Gidra Magazine. Their art books have been shown at Printed Matter, New York Art Book Fair, East Village Zine Fair, Brooklyn Art Book Fair, and the Library of The Metropolitan Museum.
Like what I do? Let’s work together! Send me an email at 💌 nessahnguyen@gmail.com (and be added to this list hehe)
Follow me on Instagram to keep up to date with my most recent work!
Selected Features/Publications:
CanvasRebel
Featured Artist | 2023
Artbean Coffee
Featured Artist | 2023
Society6
Featured Artist | 2023
Dr. Martens
Artist Collaboration + Feature | 2022
Women’s Wear Daily
Everpress Artist Collaboration | 2022
Curbed
Gift Ideas for New Yorkers | 2021
Brewbound
Hard Seltzer Collaboration | 2021
SHEER Worldwide
Artist Interview + Feature | 2021
Pearl River Mart
Light Up Chinatown Artist Feature | 2021
Think!Chinatown
Assembly for Chinatown Artist Feature | 2020
HyperAllergic
Virtual Brooklyn Art Book Fair | 2020
Digest Magazine
Issue #8 Artist Feature | 2022
OUCH! Magazine
Issue #8 Artist Feature | 2022
Angry Asian Man
Artist Feature | 2021
Communicating Through Graphic Design
Davis Publications (High School Textbook) | 2020
STAY HOME DIARY
Bitter Melon Poetry | 2020
Gidra Magazine
Issue 3, Asian-Americans During COVID | 2020
Love Letters To Chinatown
Wing on Wo & Co. | 2020
Banana Magazine
Issue 005 | 2019
W.O.W. Project - Makers Series
Wing on Wo & Co. | 2019
Artist Talks, Workshops + Panels:
A Sense of Belonging: How Do You Say Your Last Name?
Milwaukee Film Festival, Milwaukee, WI | 2023
I Wanna Hold Your Hand: A Risograph Workshop On Intimacy and Printmaking
SVA RisoLAB, New York, NY | 2023
A Bridge to Healing: Coping Through Art and Tradition
Asian American Federation via Zoom | 2022
Artists Roundtable - Chinatown Arts Week
Think!Chinatown via Zoom | 2020
BABF Virtual Programming
Brooklyn Art Book Fair via Zoom | 2020
Alumni Guest Lecturer - Alumni Panel
Purchase College, SUNY | 2018
Exhibitions:
Mythological Icons & Fresh Ink
Chopsticks Alley Art Gallery, San Jose, CA | 2024
New Editions 2023
Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Minneapolis, MN | 2023
Ăn Chơi! (Solo Show)
Artbean Coffee, New York, NY | 2023
Tiny Festival
Pansy, Amsterdam, NL | 2023
Vui Vẻ Fest
Trans-Pecos, Queens, NY | 2023
SEEING IS BELIEVING: An AAPI Visionary Entrepreneurs Exhibition
FIT, New York, NY | 2023
Sounds About Riso
usagi, Brooklyn, NY | 2022
Moon Square: After the Mooncakes
Chinatown, New York, NY | 2021
Red Envelope Show by GrumpyBert
Remote | 2021
Ethereal: A Snapshot of Asian-American Artists
Greenwich Village, NY | 2018
Le Vanguard Collective Pop-Up
Trans-Pecos, Queens, NY | 2018
Accolades:
2023 Mỹ Việt Story Slam Winner
Vietnamese Boat People via ZOOM | 2023
Artist in Residence
SVA RisoLAB, New York, NY | 2022
Education:
Purchase College, SUNY | School of Art + Design
BFA Graphic Design
