Today we’d like to introduce you to Ngan Hoang.
Hi Ngan, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My journey is one defined by transition, resilience, and an intuitive search for belonging. It began in Vietnam, where I was born in 1990 before immigrating to the United States with my parents as refugees in 1993.
While I’ve always been an artist at my core, my professional path initially took me through the technical and corporate worlds. After earning my BFA in Art & Visual Technology from George Mason University in 2012, I built a successful career in graphic design and digital media on the East Coast, eventually being recognized as one of DC’s Most Powerful Women in Programming and Design.
However, after years in the corporate landscape, I felt a deep calling to return to a more human-centric, tactile form of expression. I moved to Austin in 2021 to pursue an MA in Design in Health at UT Austin, which helped me bridge the gap between creative strategy and community well-being. The true turning point came in 2023 when I decided to leave the corporate world behind to pursue art full-time and founded Ngansequitur LLC, an independent creative studio.
To transition from corporate creative to independent artist-entrepreneur, I leaned heavily into the local ecosystem. I completed the City of Austin’s Artist Career Training program at the end of 2023, which gave me the business foundation I needed to treat my practice as a sustainable venture. More recently, in 2025, I completed the Public Artist Training through the Dougherty Arts Center, which has expanded my vision toward large-scale, socially engaged public works.
Today, I stand at a place where my art and my community advocacy are deeply intertwined, using art-making as a tool to heal and make sense of the world. As a Vietnamese immigrant-refugee, my work explores identity, resilience, and survival. Whether I’m working on a mixed-media piece for a local gallery or serving on the board of Asian Season ATX, I am finally living the story I was always meant to tell—one where art is not just a career, but a vessel for community connection and empathy.
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?
It definitely hasn’t been a linear or smooth road, but all the bumps along the way have shaped me into who I am today and have given me a lot of perspective to draw upon.
The first major challenge was the foundational one: arriving in the U.S. as a refugee as a toddler. Growing up in a household where survival was the priority meant that pursuing a stable career wasn’t just a choice; it felt like a necessity to honor my parents’ sacrifices. This led me to the corporate world, where I found significant success, but I was often fighting an internal battle. I was performing the role of the successful professional while my creative soul felt increasingly sidelined.
Leaving that stability in 2023 to pursue art full-time was one of the most terrifying and challenging decisions I’ve ever made. There is a very real “imposter syndrome” that comes with pivoting from a decorated corporate career to being a new and emerging artist in a competitive city like Austin. I had to unlearn the habit of designing for a client’s brief and learn how to listen to my own intuitive voice.
Another struggle has been navigating the business side of being an artist. Creative talent is only half the battle; the other half is marketing, grant writing, and project management. This is why I invested so much time into programs like the Artist Career Training and Business Skills Certification from the City of Austin. Learning to treat my vulnerability and my art as a sustainable business without losing the heart of it has been a steep learning curve.
Lastly, as a neurodivergent individual, I often have to manage my energy and focus differently than the typical entrepreneur. My practice of using prose and paint strokes actually grew out of this struggle; it became my way of processing a world that can often feel overwhelming. I’ve learned to stop viewing these challenges as obstacles and instead see them as the very things that allow me to connect so deeply with my community.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
At my core, I am a multidisciplinary artist and activist, but professionally, I operate through my creative studio, Ngansequitur LLC. I specialize in mixed-media art and use storytelling to bridge the gap between personal vulnerability and community advocacy. I am most recognized for my abstract expressionist artworks, but I don’t just create visual pieces; I weave narrative and text into my art to explore themes of identity, belonging, and resilience.
What I am most known for is my intuitive approach to art-making. As a Vietnamese immigrant-refugee and a neurodivergent individual, I use my practice to make sense of the world and to cultivate safe spaces for others to do the same. This has manifested in recent immersive exhibitions like “S-SENSE: Stories of Strength & Survival” which was much more than just a gallery show. It was an invitation to the community (especially AANHPI, LGBTQIA+, and other marginalized groups) to see their own stories of survival reflected in art.
What sets me apart is my background in Design focused on Health. Holding an MA from UT Austin allows me to look at art through a different lens than many of my peers. I don’t just view art as an aesthetic object; I view it as a tool for public health and social connection. I bring the strategic design thinking of my corporate past and the empathy of my health studies into the tactile world of fine art, allowing me to manage complex public projects.
What am I most proud of? I am incredibly proud of the fact that I’ve successfully built an independent career that stays true to my values. Receiving a Nexus Grant from the City of Austin in 2024 and being selected as the inaugural Artist in Residence at the Something Good Initiative were huge milestones, but the real pride comes from the messages I get from people who see my work and finally feel seen. Transitioning from a successful corporate career to a purposeful art practice was a risk, and seeing that risk pay off through community impact is my greatest achievement.
What makes you happy?
For me, happiness is rooted in a deep sense of connection—to my community, my surroundings, and my history. I also find immense happiness in nature because being outdoors is where I find my greatest inspiration and a necessary space to reset and find clarity.
At the center of my daily life, my partner, Evan, has been a constant pillar of support as I’ve navigated the transition from a stable career to the unpredictable world of an independent creative. We share our home with our dog, Mabel, and our cat, Ziggy, who provide a grounding sense of unconditional love that keeps me balanced.
I am also incredibly happy when I’m surrounded by my ‘chosen family’ that I’ve found here. The artists and friends I’ve met in Austin have been so supportive, making me feel like I truly belong.
However, a huge piece of my heart remains on the East Coast. I find so much joy in traveling back to visit my friends and family in the DC area, and I love it just as much when they spend time with me in Austin. I especially miss my mom’s Vietnamese home-cooked meals. Sharing a taste of home and sitting around the dinner table with my family telling stories is probably when I am at my happiest. It reminds me that no matter how much my professional life evolves, these personal bonds are what truly fuel my soul.
Pricing:
- Fine-art prints: $25-65
- Fine-art postcards: $5
- Upcycled bookmarks: $3
- Original artwork: Pricing varies
- Art commissions: Contact for pricing
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ngansequitur.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/ngansequitur
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/ngansequitur
- LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/ngansequitur
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ngansequitur
- Other: https://dribbble.com/ngansequitur
Image Credits
Personal Photo (black and white) by Tate Tozer
