Patricia Nguyen

About Patricia Nguyen

Patricia understands deeply how trauma is inherited and has committed her life's work to cultivating spaces for healing and political empowerment. Versed in transnational feminist studies, Black feminist and women of color feminist theory, political philosophy, and the performing arts, she has used art to heal psychic wounds and navigate across political barriers.

Growing up in Chicago, Patricia listened to stories of her parent's life before and after the war in Vietnam, where her family ultimately escaped as boat refugees to Malaysia and Indonesia and resettled in the United States in the 1980s.

After she received a B.A. in sociology from Pomona College, Patricia went to Vietnam on a journey of healing and reparation. In Vietnam, as a Fulbright Scholar, she volunteered with the Pacific Links Foundation, an international NGO, where she founded the first arts education program for survivors of sex trafficking. Navigating issues of censorship, Patricia used art as a vehicle into meaningful relationships with the women.

Patricia has over 20 years of experience working in arts education, community development, and human rights in the United States and Vietnam. She has facilitated trainings and workshops with The Fulbright Program, American Center at the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam, Jane Addams Hull House, Christina Noble Foundation, Social Workers Association in Vietnam, Vietnamese American Young Leadership Association in New Orleans (VAYLA‐NO), Asian Human Services, and 96 Acres on issues ranging from forced migration, mental health, youth empowerment, and language access.

As a performance artist, she has performed at the Nha San Collective in Vietnam, Mission Cultural Center in San Francisco, Jane Addams Hull House, Oberlin College, Northwestern University, University of Massachusetts Boston, Links Hall, Prague Quadrennial, Museum of Memory and Human Rights in Chile, Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Milwaukee Art Museum, and Contemporary Arts Network. She is co-founder and executive director of Axis Lab, a community centered art, food, and design studio based in Uptown, Chicago that focuses on inclusive and equitable development for the Southeast Asian community.

In recent news, she is an award-winning designer for the Mellon Foundation funded Chicago Torture Justice Memorial, part of a historic reparations ordinance. Currently, she is an assistant professor in the Department of American Studies at the University of Virginia.

Links:

Axis Lab

Chicago Torture: Selected Design for Public Memorial