{"id":67331,"date":"2025-06-26T15:11:56","date_gmt":"2025-06-26T19:11:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/?p=67331"},"modified":"2025-06-27T12:06:07","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T16:06:07","slug":"as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/06\/26\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\/","title":{"rendered":"As his international reputation grows, Kenny Nguyen \u201915 is helping UNC Charlotte students build confidence and careers as artists"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignwide\" style=\"min-height:798px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1000\" height=\"562\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-67343 lazyload\" alt=\"Kenny Nguyen with interns in his studio\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-with-interns-1000x562.jpg\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 1000px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 1000\/562;object-position:58% 0%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"58% 0%\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-with-interns-1000x562.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-with-interns-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-with-interns-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-with-interns-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-with-interns-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-with-interns-1400x787.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-with-interns-300x169.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-flow wp-block-cover-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Alum\u2019s studio is a training ground for the next generation.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Streams of sunlight mingle with splotches of paint on the floor where alumna Mia Alexander Nguyen and current student Veronika Falkner sit working.<\/strong> Both artists are on the cusp of launching their own careers: Nguyen earned a B.F.A. in Art in May 2024; Falkner will graduate in December. As they make their transition from school to profession, this vast and colorful space has become a creative way station where they can experience and contribute to an extraordinarily successful studio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen I graduated from UNC Charlotte, I really wanted to find a place where I could be an artist,\u201d says Kenny Nguyen \u201915 (no relation to Mia). A couple of years ago he outgrew his garage and moved his artmaking to a former textile mill in the historic heart of Concord. There he has established \u201ca collaborative environment,\u201d he says, where teams of interns and assistants work together to prepare shows and fulfill commissions and in the process gain \u201creal experience of how to be an artist.\u201d &nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition to Falkner and (Mia) Nguyen, the current team of paid interns and staff includes UNC Charlotte art students Jade Marteau and Baxter Miller and alumna Danielle Arias \u201923, who began as an intern and now serves as the digital media coordinator. Collectively they perform the complex and multifaceted work of producing Nguyen\u2019s massive and intricate creations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMy goal is to design a specific goal for each assistant so they can use their skills, enjoy the task, and feel like they\u2019re learning something,\u201d Nguyen says. \u201cI give them enough of the instructions and I leave room for them to be a little creative.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2016\" height=\"1134\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Vera_Mia-Danielle.jpg\" alt=\"Veronika Falkner, Mia Nguyen and Danielle Arias in Kenny Nguyen's studio in Concord.\" class=\"wp-image-67341 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Vera_Mia-Danielle.jpg 2016w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Vera_Mia-Danielle-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Vera_Mia-Danielle-1000x563.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Vera_Mia-Danielle-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Vera_Mia-Danielle-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Vera_Mia-Danielle-1400x788.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Vera_Mia-Danielle-300x169.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 2016px) 100vw, 2016px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 2016px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 2016\/1134;\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Veronika Falkner, Mia Nguyen and Danielle Arias in Kenny Nguyen&#8217;s studio in Concord.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In just a decade since graduating, Nguyen has developed <a href=\"http:\/\/www.kennynguyen.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">a global reputation<\/a>, with shows nationally in New York, Charlotte, Los Angeles and cities in between, and international exhibitions in places like London, Singapore, Iceland, and Seoul. His \u201cdeconstructed paintings\u201d are unique and stunningly beautiful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nguyen works with strips of silk \u2013 a material that hearkens to his native Vietnam \u2013 which he tears, paints, weaves, and gently sculpts into dynamic three-dimensional wall installations. A <a href=\"https:\/\/hyperallergic.com\/1014287\/kenny-nguyen-mother-tongue-sundaram-tagore-allery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recent review in Hyperallergic<\/a> called the large-scale, richly textured and often brilliantly colored pieces \u201ca miracle, offering a truly new visual experience.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignwide\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-painting-banner.jpg\" alt=\"Kenny Nguyen painting in his studio\" class=\"wp-image-67339 lazyload\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-painting-banner.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-painting-banner-600x337.jpg 600w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-painting-banner-1000x563.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-painting-banner-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-painting-banner-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-painting-banner-2048x1152.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-painting-banner-1400x788.jpg 1400w, https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-painting-banner-300x169.jpg 300w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==\" style=\"--smush-placeholder-width: 2560px; --smush-placeholder-aspect-ratio: 2560\/1440;\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This spring, Nguyen received the College of Arts + Architecture\u2019s 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award in Art.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhen I arrived in this country, I didn\u2019t have much\u2014not the language, not the connections, not even a clear sense of how I could make a life in the arts,\u201d he said at the ceremony. \u201cBut I had this deep pull inside of me, this urge to create. UNC Charlotte became the place where that dream started to take real shape. I\u2019ll never forget the moment one of my professors looked at me and said, <em>\u2018You have what it takes. You are an artist.\u2019 <\/em>That sentence changed everything. It gave me the confidence I didn\u2019t yet have for myself. Sometimes, that\u2019s all it takes \u2013 one person seeing you clearly, believing in you fully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\"><blockquote><p>I\u2019ll never forget the moment one of my professors looked at me and said, <em>\u2018You have what it takes. You are an artist.\u2019 <\/em>That sentence changed everything. It gave me the confidence I didn\u2019t yet have for myself. Sometimes, that\u2019s all it takes \u2013 one person seeing you clearly, believing in you fully.&#8221;<\/p><cite>Kenny Nguyen, B.F.A. in Art with a concentration in Painting (2015)<\/cite><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nguyen is determined to provide that same kind of inspiration and support to a new generation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think it\u2019s important to build that confidence, the confidence to be an artist,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is also important to provide a nuts-and-bolts education about the business of being an artist. Arias, for example, handles photography, the website, public relations, and social media for the studio. As a studio assistant, Mia Nguyen\u2019s tasks include mixing paint, cutting and cleaning silk, assisting with fabrication and installations, packing and shipping artwork, and ensuring the studio stays organized.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cKenny has been very transparent about how he balances both the administrative aspects and his studio practice as a full-time artist,\u201d she says. \u201cThis has been incredibly beneficial to observe because it provides a model for me as a recent art grad trying to find my footing. He is also very upfront about how it\u2019s taken time to get where he is now at this point in his career. It\u2019s clear he outlines this for his studio assistants and interns because he is invested in our trajectory as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like Mia Nguyen, Veronika Falkner appreciates Nguyen&#8217;s thoughtful mentorship and the camaraderie he cultivates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cYou are learning something new all the time, and over the past year I have come to understand what it takes to be invested in your work wholeheartedly, from seeing Kenny\u2019s artistic practice, to inventory, to installations and more. Everything is a process and takes hard work, and working as a team is special.&nbsp;You are constantly learning not only about the practice itself but how to be the best you can be.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alum\u2019s studio is a training ground for young artists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":455,"featured_media":67407,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"no-sidebars.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_clt_a11y_last_scan":"1778696042","_clt_a11y_has_violations":"0","_clt_a11y_violations":"[]","_clt_a11y_suppressions":"","_clt_a11y_needs_validation":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[51],"class_list":["post-67331","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-art-art-history"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>As his international reputation grows, Kenny Nguyen \u201915 is helping UNC Charlotte students build confidence and careers as artists - College of Arts + Architecture<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"As his international reputation grows, Kenny Nguyen \u201915 is helping UNC Charlotte students build confidence and careers as artists - College of Arts + Architecture\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Alum\u2019s studio is a training ground for young artists.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/06\/26\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"College of Arts + Architecture\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-06-26T19:11:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-06-27T16:06:07+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-N-e1750965208385.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1005\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"693\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Meg Whalen\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Meg Whalen\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/26\\\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/26\\\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Meg Whalen\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6ae86d643fdce51be9599976fc5e6eb7\"},\"headline\":\"As his international reputation grows, Kenny Nguyen \u201915 is helping UNC Charlotte students build confidence and careers as artists\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-26T19:11:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-27T16:06:07+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/26\\\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":884,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/26\\\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/807\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/Kenny-N-e1750965208385.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Art &amp; Art History\"],\"articleSection\":[\"News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/26\\\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/26\\\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\\\/\",\"name\":\"As his international reputation grows, Kenny Nguyen \u201915 is helping UNC Charlotte students build confidence and careers as artists - College of Arts + Architecture\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/26\\\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/26\\\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/807\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/Kenny-N-e1750965208385.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-06-26T19:11:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-06-27T16:06:07+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6ae86d643fdce51be9599976fc5e6eb7\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/26\\\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/26\\\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/26\\\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/807\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/Kenny-N-e1750965208385.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/807\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/Kenny-N-e1750965208385.jpg\",\"width\":1005,\"height\":693,\"caption\":\"Kenny Nguyen and a painting\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/2025\\\/06\\\/26\\\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"As his international reputation grows, Kenny Nguyen \u201915 is helping UNC Charlotte students build confidence and careers as artists\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/\",\"name\":\"College of Arts + Architecture\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/6ae86d643fdce51be9599976fc5e6eb7\",\"name\":\"Meg Whalen\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3b8393c5c25d74c480f1ab1c20cd221d9b6e3848f146aee5db5fbb5d12aab8c2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3b8393c5c25d74c480f1ab1c20cd221d9b6e3848f146aee5db5fbb5d12aab8c2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/3b8393c5c25d74c480f1ab1c20cd221d9b6e3848f146aee5db5fbb5d12aab8c2?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Meg Whalen\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/cws.charlotte.edu\\\/backup-coaa\\\/author\\\/mwhalen5\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"As his international reputation grows, Kenny Nguyen \u201915 is helping UNC Charlotte students build confidence and careers as artists - College of Arts + Architecture","robots":{"index":"noindex","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"As his international reputation grows, Kenny Nguyen \u201915 is helping UNC Charlotte students build confidence and careers as artists - College of Arts + Architecture","og_description":"Alum\u2019s studio is a training ground for young artists.","og_url":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/06\/26\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\/","og_site_name":"College of Arts + Architecture","article_published_time":"2025-06-26T19:11:56+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-06-27T16:06:07+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1005,"height":693,"url":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-N-e1750965208385.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Meg Whalen","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Meg Whalen","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/06\/26\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/06\/26\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\/"},"author":{"name":"Meg Whalen","@id":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/#\/schema\/person\/6ae86d643fdce51be9599976fc5e6eb7"},"headline":"As his international reputation grows, Kenny Nguyen \u201915 is helping UNC Charlotte students build confidence and careers as artists","datePublished":"2025-06-26T19:11:56+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-27T16:06:07+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/06\/26\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\/"},"wordCount":884,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/06\/26\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-N-e1750965208385.jpg","keywords":["Art &amp; Art History"],"articleSection":["News"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/06\/26\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\/","url":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/06\/26\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\/","name":"As his international reputation grows, Kenny Nguyen \u201915 is helping UNC Charlotte students build confidence and careers as artists - College of Arts + Architecture","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/06\/26\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/06\/26\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-N-e1750965208385.jpg","datePublished":"2025-06-26T19:11:56+00:00","dateModified":"2025-06-27T16:06:07+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/#\/schema\/person\/6ae86d643fdce51be9599976fc5e6eb7"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/06\/26\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/06\/26\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/06\/26\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-N-e1750965208385.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/807\/2025\/06\/Kenny-N-e1750965208385.jpg","width":1005,"height":693,"caption":"Kenny Nguyen and a painting"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/2025\/06\/26\/as-his-international-reputation-grows-kenny-nguyen-15-is-helping-unc-charlotte-students-build-confidence-and-careers-as-artists\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"As his international reputation grows, Kenny Nguyen \u201915 is helping UNC Charlotte students build confidence and careers as artists"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/#website","url":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/","name":"College of Arts + Architecture","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/#\/schema\/person\/6ae86d643fdce51be9599976fc5e6eb7","name":"Meg Whalen","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3b8393c5c25d74c480f1ab1c20cd221d9b6e3848f146aee5db5fbb5d12aab8c2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3b8393c5c25d74c480f1ab1c20cd221d9b6e3848f146aee5db5fbb5d12aab8c2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/3b8393c5c25d74c480f1ab1c20cd221d9b6e3848f146aee5db5fbb5d12aab8c2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Meg Whalen"},"url":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/author\/mwhalen5\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67331","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/455"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=67331"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67331\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":67435,"href":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/67331\/revisions\/67435"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/67407"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=67331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=67331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cws.charlotte.edu\/backup-coaa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=67331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}