Internationally acclaimed contemporary artist and social media Influencer, Dan Lam produces sculptural work that, “expresses and plays with sensational dichotomies by combining unconventional materials, organic forms, and bright colors.” With contrasting themes verging on beauty and grotesqueness at once, Lam’s art provokes its viewers to ponder meaning and existence while inspiring feelings of familiarity and wonder. Curiosity, play, and fun are the foundation of where Lam’s work begins. Her experimentation results in beautiful sculptures created with various materials such as foams, polyurethanes, resins, acrylics, and polymers, which defines her style. Learn more about Dan Lam and her work in today’s Maker Monday.
“Under Your Skin”, Styrofoam, polyurethane foam, resin, acrylic.
Andrew Joseph: What are your ideal weekend plans?
Dan Lam: My ideal weekend plan would be time to decompress, socialize, get outside, and be active. While I love being in the studio, it is a solitary pursuit, and I have to be conscious of giving myself room to breathe and play outside of creating. Something like getting a nice dinner, playing board games, and going skating with friends is perfect.
AJ: Do you get your eight hours a night? – what is your schedule like?
DL: Sleep is super important to me, and I try to get at least 8 hours. I wake up around 10 am, work out, make lunch, and get to the studio around 2 or 3 pm. I’m usually there until 11 or midnight.
When I went full-time art, I saw that I could make the most of my day since I could make my hours. I ensure I care for all my basic needs to allow my mind and creativity to their fullest potential. So there’s some structure to my days, but I also allow for spontaneity.
AJ: How would you describe your personal style?
DL: My style changes depending on the environment and setting. At the studio, my style is all about comfort. Whatever is best for creating the work. But I love to dress up when I get the opportunity. I’m drawn to unusual shapes and materials for special events like art openings, something unique. I’m also a fan of bringing festival wear moments into non-festival settings.
“Cravings”, Large-scale, interactive squish installation for Steve’s Ice Cream at the ICA Boston.
AJ: Are you a pet person? Why either way? Dogs or cats?
DL: I am a pet person, and I love all animals! But cats are my favorite. I could spend hours watching them. The way they move is so effortless, light, and confident. When they aren’t asleep but just closing their eyes, I like to imagine that they are meditating. My favorite thing is how you have to earn their affection; they are independent and not needy, so if they let you pet them, it feels most special.
AJ: What are some of the podcasts you listen to and why?
DL: I’m not much of a podcast listener, but one I do listen to religiously is the It’s Always Sunny Podcast. I’m a huge fan of the show. When I work, I usually listen to audiobooks, or sometimes I’ll have familiar shows on in the background, and I cycle between The Office and It’s Always Sunny [In Philadelphia]. The Sunny podcast is great because we get an inside peek into their dynamics as friends (they’re still hilarious) and insights into acting, writing, and show running.
“A Subtle Alchemy”, Metal, styrofoam, epoxy, automotive paint.
AJ: Favorite tea to decompress, and in what mug?
DL: I love Lucid Dreams by Magic Hour for decompression. It’s an herbal tea with calming benefits, and I drink it before bed. This tea usually goes into a Tim Kowalczyk mug. He’s known for creating ceramics that looks like cardboard boxes.
AJ: What new hobby/skill have you recently learned?
DL: About six months ago, I was itching to try something new when I discovered a gym called The Movement Standard in Dallas, TX. They focus on movement culture and the Ido Portal method. It’s like a mesh of different areas of study, from martial arts to dance to gymnastics, etc. My favorite thing about it is how it makes you re-access your body and how you move. It’s very intentional and thoughtful. I think we can become pretty ingrained in our habits, especially with something as automatic as moving, and this practice has opened my awareness of that.
About the Maker | Inspired by the great luminaries James Turrell, Olafur Eliason, and Lynda Benglis, Dan Lam is known for her bold and unique sculptures. She rose to popularity through social media, thereafter affirming her as one of today’s most successful contemporary artists. “While the ideas drive the work, much of my decision-making is found in the process and materials. I embrace the chaos of the materials and allow them to help guide and dictate where a piece goes. I am currently most interested in the viewer’s experience and how my work encourages people to engage, interact, and feel the need to want to touch the piece,” says Lam. This approach enables her to push into new boundaries while simultaneously reflecting the present times and influencing other artists. With an impressive and dedicated social following of over one million across her Instagram and TikTok profiles – @sopopomo, Lam is in awe to see the impact of her work in real-time, which she finds terrific and humbling.
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