MacArthur Fellowship winner and best-selling author Ocean Vuong is moving beyond the written word. Known for his prose and poetry, Vuong is now presenting his first solo photography exhibition at the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, Connecticut.
The exhibition, titled Matrix 199, highlights a different side of his creative work. While readers know him for books like The Emperor of Gladness, his camera captures moments of daily life with the same clarity found in his writing. These images provide a look into the personal subjects and themes he often explores in his literary career.
Emiko Tamagawa of Here & Now sat down with Vuong to discuss this transition into visual arts. The conversation sheds light on the process behind the work on display. For those familiar with his storytelling, the shift to photography offers a distinct visual perspective on the subjects he holds close.
The exhibition opens this Thursday at the museum. Visitors can view the collection to see how his visual language complements his established work in literature. It represents a significant new step for the artist in his ongoing creative output.