Nathalie Nguyen (@spicy.obj )'s 'Compartmentalization' is straight out of a 90s fantasy. The multidisciplinary artist and @happy99.online co-founder is making her solo debut at @whaam.whaam with a surreal suite of new and archival works.ā
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For Nguyen, painting is less a diary than a form of therapy. "Each of the pieces capture an experience I had to digest and untangle," she reflects, moments long compartmentalized with years spent trying to process.ā
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Running through May 23, the exhibition reveals a more personal side of the cult artist-designer, tapping into her wellspring of inspirations ā toys, dolls, playthings and ornaments, channeled into optimistic odes for herself and the human condition.ā
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Credit: Courtesy of Whaam!
Nathalie Nguyen (@spicy.obj ) spent her teen years lurking on LiveJournal blogs and selling digital drawings of furries on the internet, and her debut solo exhibition doesnāt stray far from her roots. Over at @whaam.whaam , a 7-piece oil painting series feels just like stepping into a moody childās fantasy from the 90s. Nguyenās fascinations with toys, nostalgia and the internet have established her niche in the art world, where sheās known for both her 3D art and her role as co-founder of cult downtown label @happy99.online . Just before the showās opening last Friday, we sent Nguyen a questionnaire to ask her about hustling online, collecting, and the importance of being bored. Link in bio.
Thank you everyone who made it out to the opening and all my studio mates and loved ones for supporting me the last 4-5 weeks for this show!!! I always told myself I didnāt have time to paint bc of my work with happy99 and freelance but clearlyā¦ I made time ššš
The show is up until May 22! Please swing by @whaam.whaam to see it š«¶š¼
I am very proud to announce my first solo art show at @whaam.whaam this April 17th, 2026. I moved to NY in 2018 with big dreams of being a painter. I may have gotten a bit distracted along the way having fun and making great memories but Iāve finally decided to take this thing seriously. I hope everyone can come and see my work in person <3
See ya there :)
2024 we crashed out 2025 weāre so back
Hereās to 32 years of lifeā¦ birthdays remind u that ur actually not meant to dissociate for disgusting lengths of timeā¦ ur meant to care so much it consumes ur entire soul and nothing does that for me like getting back to my inner child and justā¦ paint!
I genuinely wish everyone on Buddhaās green earth a great day and if itās notā¦ then I wish you all the strength to make it great š«¶š¼
happy 5th birthday to happy99!!! On this day in 2019 we debuted our brand in NY in the form of a virtual runwayā¦ iykykā¦ how far weāve come..!
Too many people to thank for this long journey but u know who u are!!! Ultimate gratefulness to @thedomsolo for sticking it with me thru some of my best and worst moments š
Hereās my blood sacrifice to the godsā¦ May they continue to bless me and the people I love with grace and abundance š§š»āāļøif youāre ever in the neighborhood, come check the new diorama out!
happy99 doll promoā¦ my fingers are permanently covered in super glue lmao couldnāt have done this without @moomoomaw ās work on the body of the bag (she even stamped the logo & made a zipperā¦ wtfā¦), @rvdimir ās modeling & printing of the glasses @thedomsolo on photos & ofc his ideas !!
The bag frame & the knit skirt was hands down the hardest part but Iād do it all over again if I could do it with my dream team!!
