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Born in 1978, Kevin T. N. Nguyen is the son of Tam Vo and Cong Nguyen. Kevin's family emigrated from the politically repressive Vietnam when he was only three years old. Along with many other Vietnamese refugees, Kevin and his family fled their homeland on a small boat in search of political asylum and were later rescued by generous Taiwanese fishermen. After residing in Taiwan for fifteen months, Kevin and his family resettled in the United States where he currently resides with his parents and two siblings.
Kevin's appetite for the arts began in a San Jose daycare where he was first exposed to arts and crafts. He started his college career locally and studied architecture but quickly found his heart was in the fine arts. He began his studies at the Academy of Arts in San Francisco, but it was at San Jose State University where his skills were honed. He is currently finishing up his final semester for his BFA in fine arts. |
 | Blind Chatter: A representation of Kevin's personal experience and struggle as a Vietnamese American living in America. This work represents the eternal struggle of an American of ethnic descent and displays his daily struggle to overcome racial stereotypes and blind discrimination. In his mind, heart and soul, Kevin is all-American, but he feels a constant and intense rejection by the mainstream. "I am not the clothes I wear or the accent in my voice. I am an individual with a history as rich and valid as anyone else." Blind Chatter is Kevin's reaction to the actions of individuals who ignorantly prejudge him without opening their eyes to truly see him at him… ... "they look but they don't see." |
| The Gem |  |
 | The Circle |
| Sketch Book: Kevin Nguyen's sketchbook is being displayed side by side with Ha Cam Tam's. Ha Cam Tam sketched moments from the life of a boat person in a tiny vessel on the open seas, not knowing whether either he or the sketchbook would survive the perilous voyage. Kevin recorded images of the artist's thoughts and struggles in the Promised Land with its caveats of acceptance and rejection. Two generations, two struggles. |
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