A Flinch, A Craving, A Thrill Of Disgust : A solo exhibition by Dan Lam
Dan Lam (b. 1988) is an American sculptor of Vietnamese ancestry, internationally recognized for her brightly colored, “drippy” sculptures that challenge the boundaries between beauty and repulsion. Working primarily with unconventional materials such as polyurethane foam, epoxy resin, acrylics, and polymers, Lam creates organic, otherworldly forms that appear to ooze, bulge, and spill into the spaces they inhabit. These works embody a constant tension between attraction and aversion, inviting viewers to question their own visceral responses while confronting themes of excess, desire, and disgust.
Drawing inspiration from artists such as James Turrell, Olafur Eliasson, and Lynda Benglis, Lam embraces experimentation and the chaotic behavior of her chosen media, often allowing process to dictate form. Her practice balances play and intuition with technical control, resulting in sculptures that feel simultaneously alien and familiar. This approach has positioned Lam as a distinctive voice in contemporary sculpture, expanding the dialogue around materiality, tactility, and the phenomenology of art.
In "A Flinch, A Craving, A Thrill of Disgust " Dan Lam invites viewers into a space where attraction and revulsion intertwine. Her sculptures cascade over surfaces with a lush materiality that simultaneously tempts touch and warns against it, embodying the uneasy pleasure of indulgence. Lam balances spontaneity with meticulous craft, transforming chaos into carefully staged encounters. The works ask us to confront our instinctual responses, cause our impulses to recoil, and linger in fascination - reminding us that beauty often exists at the threshold of discomfort.
Since earning her BFA from the University of North Texas (2010) and MFA from Arizona State University (2014), Lam has exhibited extensively across the United States and internationally, with notable presentations in New York, San Francisco, Paris, and Munich. Her collaborations include major commissions with companies such as Facebook and Virgin, as well as immersive projects with the experiential art collective Meow Wolf. Widely covered by media outlets including Architectural Digest, Forbes, and Travel + Leisure, her practice resonates across both fine art and popular culture.
