Dan Lam (American, b. 1988) is a contemporary sculptor of Vietnamese heritage, internationally recognized for her vibrant “drippy” sculptures that blur the line between attraction and repulsion. Living and working in Dallas, Lam creates biomorphic forms using non-traditional materials such as polyurethane foam, acrylic paint, and epoxy resin. Her works often spill over the edges of shelves or pedestals, appearing to ooze, melt, or drip, provoking simultaneous feelings of desire, curiosity, and discomfort.
Central to Lam’s practice is the tension between opposites: beauty and ugliness, playfulness and seriousness, organic and synthetic. She pushes her materials to extremes, creating sculptures that hover between the alluring and the grotesque. Color plays a crucial role—iridescent gradients, candy-bright hues, and spiked surfaces seduce the eye before unsettling it, forcing viewers to question where the line between fascination and repulsion is drawn.
Lam’s work also engages with the tactile and the bodily. Her blob-like, otherworldly pieces resemble organisms, tumors, or even confectionery, sparking instinctive reactions that range from delight to unease. This ambiguity has helped her cultivate a massive social media following, transforming her into an Instagram phenomenon while still commanding serious attention from collectors and institutions.
After earning her MFA from Arizona State University, Lam began experimenting with polyurethane foam, embracing its unpredictable qualities and potential for transformation. Over time, she has scaled her practice upward, producing increasingly monumental works that retain the same strange balance of softness and aggression. Drawing inspiration from nature, the human body, and the fluidity of perception, her sculptures serve as playful yet profound meditations on beauty, excess, and the instability of form.
Dan Lam’s art has been exhibited widely across the United States and internationally, and her sculptures are held in both private and institutional collections. With each new series, she continues to expand the expressive possibilities of her chosen materials, challenging audiences to embrace the tension between the beautiful and the bizarre.
