News Summary
Tuan Andrew Nguyen, a multi-disciplinary artist and UC Irvine alumnus, has been selected as a 2025 MacArthur Fellow. This prestigious award recognizes his impactful work in art and activism. Nguyen’s artistic practice addresses themes of violence, displacement, and colonialism, stemming from his family’s refugee experience during the Vietnam War. He has co-founded significant art initiatives and has gained international recognition for his thought-provoking projects.
Irvine, California – Tuan Andrew Nguyen, a 49-year-old multi-disciplinary artist and alumnus of the University of California, Irvine, has been selected as a 2025 MacArthur Fellow. He is among six artists and a total of 22 recipients honored with this prestigious recognition, often referred to as the “genius grant.” The MacArthur Fellowship acknowledges individuals with remarkable creativity and a proven history of excellence, providing awardees with a stipend of $800,000 with no strings attached.
Nguyen graduated with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from UC Irvine in 1999 and has since made significant contributions to the fields of art and activism. His recognition places him as the third MacArthur Fellow from UC Irvine since the award was established in 1981, following A. Park Williams in 2023 and Russel S. Lande in 1997. Kevin Appel, Chair of the Department of Art at UC Irvine, commended Nguyen’s recognition, noting the powerful intersection of art history and activism in his work.
Nguyen’s artistic endeavors revolve around themes of violence, displacement, and colonialism, critically examining intergenerational traumas faced by various communities. His personal history plays a significant role in his work; his family fled the Vietnam War as refugees by boat from Saigon in 1979 when he was merely three years old. After resettling in the United States, he lived in a small apartment in the Vietnamese diasporic community of Irvine alongside ten others.
Initially aspiring to become a doctor, Nguyen’s career path transformed as he engaged with art courses at UC Irvine, influenced by established artists like Daniel J. Martinez. After completing his undergraduate studies, he attained a master’s degree from the California Institute of the Arts in 2005, subsequently returning to Vietnam that same year to study under his poet grandmother. This return ignited his passion for the local graffiti scene, leading him to create a documentary focused on street art in Ho Chi Minh City.
Nguyen co-founded The Propeller Group, an artist collective and production company, and played an instrumental role in establishing Sàn Art, an independent artist space in Ho Chi Minh City. His artistic works have found international acclaim, having been exhibited at prestigious venues such as the New Museum in New York, the Whitney Museum of American Art, and the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Among his notable projects are “The Specter of Ancestors Becoming,” “The Unburied Sounds of a Troubled Horizon,” and the forthcoming sculpture “Strike” set for 2025, which will be created from artillery shell brass. A central theme in Nguyen’s oeuvre is the exploration of generational memory and trauma, emphasizing the importance of understanding the past to navigate the present.
Nguyen’s recognition as a MacArthur Fellow highlights his impact as an artist and activist, solidifying his position as an influential figure in contemporary artistic discourse. Through his innovative work, he continues to shed light on critical societal issues and the experiences of marginalized communities, blending his artistic vision with a commitment to advocacy.
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- OC Register: UC Irvine Alumnus Tuan Andrew Nguyen Named 2025 MacArthur Fellow
- Wikipedia: MacArthur Fellowship
- OC Register: DA Files Election-Related Charges Against Former Irvine Councilmember Tammy Kim
- Google Search: Tuan Andrew Nguyen
- OC Register: Irvine Debuts Its First Protected Street Lane Exclusive for Bikes
- Google Scholar: Tuan Andrew Nguyen
- OC Register: Irvine’s New Space-Themed Playground Is Universal in More Ways Than One
- Encyclopedia Britannica: MacArthur Fellowship
- OC Register: All Hands on Deck for Move-In Day at UC Irvine
- Google News: Art Activism
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