Briefly introduce yourself.
I’m Brandon Nguyen (he/him), the founder of Fleur Boy. Queer, Asian, and f**king proud. I’m a multi-medium artist and love connecting with people through my floral work that highlights my cultural roots. I especially love combining flora + fruits in my work, the sexiest dynamic duo.
Share what drives your creativity?
Everything. It’s hard to pinpoint one source of inspiration and that’s why I have so much fun when I design. For me, the play aspect of designing is so foundational and helps guide me in my day to day life beyond flora. When I feel that I’m too much in my head about my direction for a piece, I remind myself that all of my visions are within me. Creating from that perspective allows me freedom to express myself in a way that isn’t tied down to a rigid formula.
Tell us more about your creative journey?
I’m discovering that the many creative flows that I tap into stem from my own identities, specifically my queer and Vietnamese roots. Growing up with these nuanced identities introduced struggles that helped me evolve into the person I am today. My personal evolution is tied deeply to my creative journey. The deeper I swim into the depths of who I am, the more authentic my designs feel to me. Translating my soul through flora has healed me in profound ways and through this vulnerability, I continue to discover new paths within my evolving creative journey.
What is your message to the queer community?
Step into your power and pave your own path. It’s not always going to make sense and that’s okay, every blessing that is rightfully yours will fall into your lap. Lean into your process and do what you were destined to do. To end it, show up as you are and shake the world up!
What does it mean to be queer and in the floral industry?
It is a radical resistance to the social structures that have existed within this industry. There is no way around the fact that the industry highlights and mainstreams White talent over queer BIPOC designers. I am grateful for the connections I continue to make with other artists who bring so much flavor and flare to the flora world.
Beyond the flora world, being queer is liberating. It’s empowering. It’s healing. The fears that once held me back from expressing my complexities still exist, but they no longer have agency over how I choose to articulate my colors. We got this, you got this.
