Tell me about your work or specialty.
I’m an artist and an art facilitator. I use art to bring people together, to build bridges, to tell stories, to bring the humanity out of us and make it more visible, more tangible. I love the process of making art in my own practice, and I like to de-dramatize or de-sacralize it when I host workshops. I want people to find what I couldn’t find growing up: a place where I could make art without any goal, expectation, or pressure — without needing to be talented, accurate, or “good.” Just a space where creating is allowed to simply be what it is. I see my work as a facilitator as an open door for curious people who want to try, dare, and explore something new without worrying about the outcome. Art becomes a tool for presence, discovery, play, and connection — and sometimes even for healing.
If I had to summarize, I would say my specialty is making people feel comfortable enough to be brave, to explore freely, and to uncover something inside themselves they didn’t think they had. And witnessing that moment — when someone surprises themselves — is one of the most beautiful parts of my work.
How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in French Polynesia, and after a career working for my country’s administration — serving the community in a broad sense — I decided to leave all that behind, dive into art full-time, and have an impact that is less visible but just as meaningful.
I arrived in the United States in 2024, and since I had to build everything from scratch, I knocked on every door I could: offering art workshops, asking if I could join shows, residencies, events. I got a lot of “no’s,” but, to my greatest surprise, I also got “yes”!
Today, I’m a member of Tivoli Artists Gallery in my home-village, where I now teach art workshops, as well as at the library, in hotels, and in art centers in Upstate New York!
What surprises you in your work, now or in the past?
As an artist, I now work for myself. People always say that entrepreneurship isn’t a sprint but a marathon. What I eventually learned — and something no one really prepares us for — is that it’s actually more like a race with no finish line. There is never an endpoint. And that changes everything. You need to know how to motivate yourself, set challenges, take care of yourself, question yourself, and constantly reposition yourself to stay aligned with who you are and what you want to achieve. It’s almost more important — and honestly more difficult — than accounting (which I really don’t enjoy!).
When I talk with other entrepreneurs now — and yes, I dare to say that artists are also entrepreneurs when they want to live from their art — I’m always surprised by how lonely this path can feel, and how the same doubts keep coming back, again and again, no matter the stage of your career or the field you’re in.
Any other interests or pursuits?
The hardest thing for me is to stay focused on just a few interests and not try to do everything at once. I used to repeat to myself, “choosing is giving up,” which explained why I struggled so much to make decisions, hahaha…
Now I tell myself: “choosing is giving up — not abandoning, just postponing something else — and only for now.” You can do so many things in a lifetime, as long as you don’t try to do them all at the same time.
A few years ago, I challenged myself to make 1,000 drawings in 1,000 days. Not big drawings, not masterpieces — just the commitment to draw, no matter what. Sometimes it was 10 minutes, sometimes 3 hours, depending on the day, the mood, the weather, or where life took me.
1,000 days is 2.74 years. Starting in January 2022, it carried me all the way to September 2024. I didn’t really know how to draw before that, but I told myself that after 1,000 days, something had to change — I would necessarily grow. And it did change everything. It shaped my discipline, my eye, my confidence, my artistic voice. It also taught me that small, consistent actions create huge transformations. Since then, I think: if I live another 40 years, that means I can still choose 14 more subjects to explore! Fourteen new universes. Fourteen new skills. Fourteen new ways to reinvent myself. And that thought makes me genuinely excited for the years to come.
What drives you crazy?
I come from a culture where we share, we teach, we help each other grow — so when I see people who look down on others because what they do feels (at least in their mind) more valuable, more difficult, more accomplished, more whatever, it goes against everything I believe in… I much prefer to be around people who love to share, to welcome others, and to lift each other up. Art — and life — works so much better when we make space for others, when we pass on the tools instead of hiding them.
Who inspires you?
It’s hard to choose! I don’t know if there’s one specific person.
I’m inspired by people who talk about what they love with that spark in their eyes — the kind of enthusiasm that feels contagious. When someone shares their passion, whatever the subject is, I suddenly want to do what they’re talking about too. Their excitement opens a door in me. Whether they’re a carpenter, a baker, a bookseller, or an alpaca farmer, I’m very sensitive to people’s joy, their dedication, the way they light up when they explain something they care about. I could listen to anyone talk about their craft for hours.
There is something incredibly beautiful in seeing someone fully alive in what they do, and that inspires me far more than any “big name.” I guess what inspires me most is sincerity — people who love deeply, who share generously, who are curious, and who don’t hide their passion. That energy fuels me.
Words of wisdom or final thoughts?
I’d love to invite people to rediscover the pleasure of being a beginner. It’s uncomfortable at first — you feel clumsy, the little voices in your head judge everything, and nothing looks the way you imagined. But if you stay with it long enough to move through that first layer of discomfort, something shifts. When those voices finally quiet down, it becomes exhilarating to see yourself progress, to stretch what you know, to grow, and to realize that the only limits you truly have are the ones you choose to keep.
So… what is your little voice telling you these days?
What is something you’ve always wanted to try, but never dared to start?
Maybe this is your invitation to take that first small, imperfect, beautiful step.
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Vaea Dang is a French Polynesian artist and art facilitator based in Tivoli, New York. She works across drawing, storytelling, and mixed media, using art to bring people together, build bridges, and make the small moments of life visible again. After a first career serving her community in French Polynesia, she chose to start over and devote herself fully to art. She arrived in the United States in 2024 with a promise to herself: to do everything she could to live from her art. Knocking on every door — galleries, libraries, hotels, community spaces — led to real opportunities. Today, she teaches workshops in her village art gallery, in libraries, hotels, and art centers, helping people reconnect with creativity in a gentle, pressure-free way. Her work revolves around presence, curiosity, and the pleasure of being a beginner. Above all, she believes that everyone has a creative voice — sometimes hidden, always worth finding.
Website: vaeadang.com
| Instagram: @_v.a.e.a
(published 2025)
