Matt Nguyen shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Matt, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
My three month old baby. She is number three of my three girls. I am completely outnumbered— I have been and am even more so now. The luckiest guy ever.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Matt, an abstract artist from the Chicago area. I actually started painting during the pandemic, when I began “seeing” finished pieces in my imagination at night before falling asleep. I hadn’t ever picked up a paint brush seriously, yet felt an intense pull toward it.
What started as a way to process and reflect has grown into a practice where I paint intuitively, often inspired by nature, music, and everyday moments of connection. My goal is to create work that feels both personal and inviting—something that sparks curiosity or reflection in whoever encounters it.
Lately, I’ve been exploring how art can be a bridge between my inner world and the greater context of collective storytelling.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
I got lost in the wild as a kid while on a family camping trip in Wisconsin. As an independent ten year old kid, I took off on a solo hike— backpack, water, snacks and all.
On my journey, I managed to get fully turned around in a monstrosity of a wooded valley, only to emerge miles from camp on the edge of a hill with a large drop overlooking a scenic and vivid view of hills and valleys and trees for days.
I still recall the details as if it were yesterday. It was exciting, scary, and relieving when I finally found my way back, in so much that it left a permanent mark in my memory. It has had a major impact on my views as an adult about the power of nature.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
You’ve got this.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes and no. One thing some might be surprised by is my daydream of having a slower, more rural lifestyle—something with a bit of homesteading or cabin life mixed in.
I’ll always need to be near a city and I love big cities like Chicago and NYC, so I guess I do need that second home or family cabin! It would have to be modest, otherwise there’d be no point for me.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
House chores!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mknartist.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matt_k_nguyen.art?igsh=ZGt5MGl0eGp2ZHNo&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
Andrea Pabon
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