Charlize-Nhung Nguyễn’s practice explores the fluid space between functional objects and sculpture, contextualized through traditional craft theory. Born in Vietnam and now working in Canada, her background in architecture and goldsmithing shapes how she examines an item’s relationship with its environment. In her current studio practice, she pushes material limits to look at the human body as a living, evolving journey.
Nguyễn holds multiple advanced diplomas alongside her Bachelor of Fine Arts, providing a multi-disciplinary foundation that informs her studio work. This rigorous framework balances a delicate intersection—navigating the utility of personal objects while embracing the conceptual freedom of sculpture. Her research-driven approach has been expanded through international residencies, including time at the Estonian Academy of Arts and the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Maine, U.S.A. This diverse, global experience underpins her studio work, which has been shared across North America and Europe through exhibitions, competitions, and private commissions.
Her 2018 exhibition, Exodus: The Boat and I, was a pivotal milestone that received the OCAD University Medal and the Carol Rapp Contemporary Jewellery Award, leading to an Artist-in-Residence residency at the Harbourfront Centre. Whether creating for a gallery setting or a private collector, her focus remains on meticulous craftsmanship and honest material exploration.
CV available upon request.