Work samples

  • In Our Own Time-Book

    In Our Own Time (web comic)
    In this web comic, I share the ups and downs of my and my wife's efforts to start a family through IVF. Originally published as a recurring web comic for McSweeney's Internet Tendency.

  • Bittersweet: A Pandemic Sketchbook (graphic novel)

    Bittersweet: A Pandemic Sketchbook (graphic novel)
    After months of sheltering in place, my wife and I hit the road to rescue Mom in Florida and harvest the family mangos before returning north. This graphic diary captures how the uncertainty and tragedy of the pandemic of 2020 somehow make the moments of human connection that much sweeter.     Originally published online at Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center.

  • About "The Gulf" (video)
    A brief video about my comic series, "The Gulf." This work combines writing, drawing, music, and animation. It is released digitally on iBooks as well as in print form. The Gulf elliptically chronicles the past and present of a fictional Vietnamese-American family inspired by my own. The title of The Gulf refers to the physical location of the gulf coast of Florida, where I grew up, as well as the idea of division: between adulthood & childhood, parent & child, Vietnamese & American identity.
  • Mom's Viet Kitchen demo (website)
    A brief video tour of Mom's Viet Kitchen, a multimedia website that tells my family's story––our Vietnamese American immigrant experience––through recipes, writing, art, photography, music, and video. Experience the full website: https://momsvietkitchen.com

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About Nguyen

Baltimore City  

Nguyên Khôi Nguyễn is an interdisciplinary artist and educator. He is the cartoonist of the Ignatz nominated comic series, The Gulf. Nguyên’s work has been featured in … more

See $10,000 Mary Sawyers Baker Prize Winning Portfolio
View Nguyen's Resume
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Bittersweet: A Pandemic Sketchbook (Graphic Novel)

In this graphic novel, I use a diary structure to tell the story of my wife and I hitting the road to rescue Mom in Florida (after months of sheltering in place), and harvesting the family mangos before returning to Baltimore. Bittersweet captures how the uncertainty and tragedy of the pandemic of 2020 somehow make the moments of human connection that much sweeter. This work was made possible through the support of Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and the Center for the Humanities at Loyola University Maryland. Read the full graphic novel here: https://ngknguyen.com/covid-diary

  • Behind Bittersweet
    Making a pandemic comic.
  • Bittersweet.pdf
    Read an excerpt of the graphic novel.
  • Cover image
    Cover image
  • Page 4
    Page 4
    Page 4
  • Spread 8
    Spread 8
    Spread 8
  • Spread 18
    Spread 18
  • Spread 19
    Spread 19
  • Spread 20
    Spread 20
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    • The Gulf (multimedia graphic novel)

    The Gulf is a multimedia graphic novel that combines writing, drawing, music, and animation. It is released digitally on iBooks as well as in print form. The Gulf elliptically chronicles the past and present of a fictional Vietnamese-American family inspired by my own. The title of The Gulf refers to the physical location of the gulf coast of Florida, where I grew up, as well as the idea of division: between adulthood & childhood, parent & child, Vietnamese & American identity. 2015–present.

    • Making The Gulf # 5

      A brief video describing the making of Chapter 5 of The Gulf. This video was originally produced an exhibited at Asian Arts Initiative, Philadelphia, in the exhibit: "Thank You, No Thank You."

    • Saigon, Florida (excerpt)

      In Chapter 7, Tuấn is 12 years old and walking home from the bus stop in the Florida heat. Along the way, he thinks about his hometown of Cape Coral, how his family got here, and whether Bà Ngoại, grandma, will stay.

      Available for Purchase
    • About The Gulf (video)
      A brief video about my comic series, "The Gulf." This work combines writing, drawing, music, and animation. It is released digitally on iBooks as well as in print form. The Gulf elliptically chronicles the past and present of a fictional Vietnamese-American family inspired by my own. The title of The Gulf refers to the physical location of the gulf coast of Florida, where I grew up, as well as the idea of division: between adulthood & childhood, parent & child, Vietnamese & American identity.
    • The Gulf: #3, 50 Needles - print edition
      The Gulf: #3, 50 Needles - print edition
      Along with the multimedia versions, The Gulf is also produced in a print edition. This is chapter 3 with a full color cover.
    • The Gulf: #3, 50 Needles - print edition (page spread)
      The Gulf: #3, 50 Needles - print edition (page spread)
    • Ao Tay Dun
      Ao Tay Dun
      Ink on paper. 42"X30". A painting created during the making of chapter 3 of the Gulf. Inspired by Mom's old dress pattern books.
    • The Gulf: # 4, All You Can Eat - print edition (page spread)
      The Gulf: # 4, All You Can Eat - print edition (page spread)
    • The Gulf: #2, After It Rains (page 14)
      The Gulf: #2, After It Rains (page 14)
    • TheGulf: #1, Turtle Watch (page 10)
      TheGulf: #1, Turtle Watch (page 10)
    • Gulf#5 Pages 6-7
      Gulf#5 Pages 6-7
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    • Mom's Viet Kitchen (multimedia website)

    Mom's Viet Kitchen is a multimedia website that tells my family's story––our Vietnamese American immigrant experience––through recipes, writing, art, photography, music, and video. 2018–present.  Experience the full website: https://momsvietkitchen.com
     

    • Mom's Viet Kitchen demo (website)
      A brief video tour of Mom's Viet Kitchen, a multimedia website that tells my family's story––our Vietnamese American immigrant experience––through recipes, writing, art, photography, music, and video. Experience the full website: https://momsvietkitchen.com
    • Bà Ba
      Bà Ba
      Digital drawing. Ba ba is a traditional Vietnamese dessert that also has other meanings.
    • Nhau (Beer & Snacks)
      Nhau (Beer & Snacks)
      Digital painting. Vietnamese snack foods typically eaten while enjoying beer.
    • Pho: Crazy rich soup
      A documentary on cooking pho and Mom's childhood memories of the dish.
    • Che Chart: Viet Desserts
      Che Chart: Viet Desserts
      Digital painting. An infographic of my personal favorite che, Vietnamese desserts.
    • Rau Ma
      A documentary on making the juice, rau ma.
    • Mostly Mung.jpg
      Mostly Mung.jpg
      Digital painting. The many uses of mung bean.
    • Mango-Thon 2019
      A documentary about my family and firends remebering Dad with a three day gathering of harvesting, eating, and celebration.
    • Mango on the Altar.jpeg
      Mango on the Altar.jpeg
      Watercolor. A Vietnamese altar and the cutting of mango.
    • How To Make Iced Coffee (In Saigon)
      How To Make Iced Coffee (In Saigon)
      Digital painting. The morning ritual of making iced coffee in Saigon, Vietnam.
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    • A Vietnamese-American Picture Dictionary

    A Vietnamese-American Picture Dictionary explores the urgency and frustration of language. Its pages function as a record of Vietnamese-American life. The graphic style is inspired by the Vietnamese children’s language workbooks my parents brought with us when we came to America in the 1980’s.

     

    • Supermarket/Cho
      Supermarket/Cho

      My mother's describes her first time in a supermarket.

    • Care/Cham soc
      Care/Cham soc
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    • New Yorker Cartoons

    Cartoons published in The New Yorker.

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