Today we’d like to introduce you to Trang Nguyen.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My story starts in a refugee camp in Malaysia, where my family dreamed of a bigger and better life in America than the life they had in Vietnam. My mother was pregnant with me while she escaped from Vietnam with my father and some family members. I want to shine a spotlight on the courage and fortitude required of my parents to leave their lives in Vietnam for a chance at a new beginning and a better life. Their love and sacrifice has never gone unnoticed, and I am extremely grateful for the life I was given.
As the eldest daughter in an untraditional and chaotic household, I was faced with a lot of pressure to be the best, receive honors in class and the importance of academics over everything else. However, as a kid, I was always balancing my interest in science and art. I used to draw all the time and create these little small worlds that I could escape to. On the other hand, I also loved being a part of science fairs and excelling in science class. I graduated from San Francisco State with a Biochemistry degree and went on to work on clinical research trials in oncology. However, art was my true passion. On the side, I created art with a friend, and we used to sell our art at a local market on campus. There was this gratifying feeling when someone bought our art to hang in their house or to give to someone as a gift. I felt seen and heard with my artwork and this fueled a fire inside of me to continue to create.
Bath Salt Babe Studio was created in 2018. Art is a form of expression for me. I started posting my doodles on my Instagram and gained more traction. My previous works have been artwork for wedding invitations, restaurants, brand logos, merchandise, and commissioned art. Bath Salt Babe Studio was a hobby, but now I get the chance to invite viewers into my little world.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My road has had a lot of turns and some dead ends. The struggle has been my vulnerability and displaying it for people to interpret. In this journey, there has been a lot of self-discovery and self-awareness. After my friend and I stopped creating art together, I had to figure out what my art style was and what messages I wanted to convey.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Bath Salt Babe Studio consists of digital art and acrylic painting. I am inspired by the trials and tribulations of the different phases in my life and my personal growth. I incorporate my environment, my Vietnamese culture, my love for nature and science, and my journey with relationships in my artwork.
My art is raw and vulnerable, which sets me apart from others. I am not afraid to draw what I feel, how I’ve grown, and the new life lessons I’ve learned. I realize others also struggle with similar problems, so I am proud to highlight it through my artwork and show that people are not alone. It is comforting to see a piece of drawing and know that the artist has felt that same struggle too.
What’s next?
My plans for the future are to create more murals and collaborate with restaurants and brands. My passion project is writing a book with my drawings and creating a space for more Vietnamese artists and writers to share their art. I am looking forward to delving more into my community and culture and how I can create art to represent that.
Pricing:
- $25 for Prints
- $30 for Totes
- $50 (baseline) for Commission Art Prints
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/bathsaltbabestudio
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/trangxdnguyen
