Nuge

Nuge, which is pronounced like NOOJ, was born Dan Nguyen in Canada in 1987. He now lives and works in San Diego. His nickname/artist name was dubbed by his friends constantly mispronouncing his last name “Nguyen,” but it grew to be a name of familiarity. Nuge studied architecture at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island and graduated with a Masters in Architecture. After several years in the field, he found that the actual working experience of an architect was sharply different from the intensive, creative process of his studies. The work required him to be strapped down to a computer, drawing construction documents and rearranging condominium layouts whereas in architecture school, he had the license to be as wild and imaginative as possible.

Nuge’s ability to take such a hard, unforgiving material such as ash wood, and turn it into something that appears soft is the nuance that has landed Nuge in so many private and public collections internationally notably Tiffany&Co. showrooms here in the U.S. Nuge has been featured in numerous notable publications such as San Diego Magazine with a 5 page write up about his artistic practice, and his first museum exhibition at the Lancaster Museum of Art and History. L&G Projects was the first gallery to represent the growing artist in 2019.

The sculptural wood art that Nuge creates today, in essence, is a rebellion against his architectural background. The artist creates organic forms out of wood that are in stark contrast to the hard lines and rigid nature of architecture. His work is about flow, energy, and human connection. It is because of these elements that he places 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 by hand. This method requires enormous patience but also allows the artist to revisit his work daily. He massages the surface into place in a way that could not be experienced behind a computer screen.

“The energy can be felt when my soul is poured into my work. I hope you enjoy my work as much as I enjoy creating it for you.” -Nuge <3