Today we’d like to introduce you to Dan Lam.
Hi Dan, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been drawn to making things, but I didn’t arrive at the work I make today all at once. I studied graphic design for a year before switching to fine art, eventually earning my BFA from the University of North Texas and my MFA from Arizona State University. Over time, I realized I was less interested in representing the world than in creating objects that existed between spaces.
Since becoming a full time artist in 2016, my practice has been driven by experimentation. Most of my techniques were developed through years of trial and error, and I still approach each piece with that same curiosity. I usually begin with a loose idea, but the materials have a way of steering the work down different paths.
Today my sculptures are collected and exhibited internationally, but what keeps me engaged hasn’t really changed. I’m still interested in discovering forms that surprise me and in building objects that feel simultaneously familiar and impossible.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I don’t really think of my career as having been filled with obstacles. It’s been a privilege to spend my life making art, and I’m deeply grateful that the work has found an audience.
That doesn’t mean it’s always been easy. There have been plenty of challenges, but I’ve always viewed them as part of the process. Whether it’s developing new techniques, navigating the business side of being an artist, or adapting when things don’t go as planned, every challenge has become a lesson that has shaped both my work and me. I’m still learning, and I hope I always will.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I create sculptures that exist somewhere between the familiar and the unknown. They’re often described as playful or surreal, but I think of them more as invitations to look a little longer. I want people to experience the work through their senses before trying to make intellectual sense of it.
My work is built entirely by hand using self developed techniques with materials like foam, resin, silicone, and acrylic. The process is highly intuitive, and the materials often guide the final form. Experimentation has always been central to my practice, and I’m constantly exploring new materials, scales, and ways of making.
If there’s something I’m most proud of, it’s that I’ve built a career by staying true to my own curiosity. The work has evolved naturally over time, and I’m grateful that collectors, museums, and public audiences around the world have connected with it. That support has given me the freedom to keep experimenting, which is ultimately what I love most about being an artist.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I think people assume artists begin with a clear vision of what they’re trying to express. For me, it’s almost the opposite. Making art is how I figure out what I think. The process is less about executing an idea than discovering one.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bydanlam.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sopopomo/
