We caught up with NUGE, the artist who’s flipping the script on industrial materials with a fresh mix of concrete, wood, and creativity. From balancing minimalist vibes with texture to finding peace in solitude, NUGE gives us a peek into his process, inspirations, and the challenges that come with working with unconventional materials. If you’ve ever wondered how art that’s both rugged and refined comes to life, this is your chance to find out.
Check Out NUGE's Work HERE
Your work has such a cool mix of industrial vibes and warmth with the wood elements. What drew you to combining concrete and wood in your pieces?
I have always been drawn to the different textural elements that each material offers. Lately, I’ve been compelled to experiment with different materials and combinations to see what new feels could result. Concrete felt like a natural choice because I was looking for something that really contrasts wood in every way. Wood is a very “live” material even after is has been harvested and gone through the kiln. It can move, warp, grow and shrink in different environments and times of the year. It takes a lot of patience and understanding in order to work with it. It has always felt like a warm and inviting material to work with. To contrast this, I introduced concrete into the mix. It’s a stiff, rigid material that can also be made to feel delicate if presented in a certain way.
How does the concept of “solitude” play into your work? Is it a theme you explore often, or was this piece something new for you?
As a creative, the feeling of “Solitude” is something that I find peace in. It’s a space where my mind wanders onto new ideas without all of life’s distractions. I guess you could say I’m naturally an introvert. This piece is representative of this sentiment because the square in the middle is symbolic of being able to find your quiet space and your comfort zone in a world where there is so much chaos and unrest.
Can you walk us through your creative process? What’s it like going from a raw idea to that final, finished piece?
My process for designing and creating varies for every project especially now since I am working with a handful of different mediums, such as wood, concrete, felt and ceramics. What’s consistent for me is that all of my prior projects are building blocks for future works. I never would have arrived at working with concrete had I not worked with wood first. And I would have have thought to carve wood had I not made cutting boards first. The act of creating one thing always leads to the next iteration. When I am struck with an idea for a new project, I try to get it down as a rough sketch as quickly as possible. I feel like my mind is very lucid at times, and ideas can be forgotten as quickly as they hit me. So I draw everything down. 95% of what I draw never makes it past being a drawing. From there, I dissect the design in my head and figure out how to construct it. The most important factor of bringing ideas to fruition is to never back down from an idea because I don’t yet know how to construct it. If an idea is good enough, then it is something that I will figure out how to construct along the process. This mindset helps prevent myself from being pigeonholed into only making things that I’ve made before.
Your work has this balance of minimalism and texture - what inspires that contrast? Are you drawn to simplicity, or do you like playing with details?
I think contrast can be used as a strength when creating works. In a way, contrast can be felt as very satisfying when it is presented to the viewer as a pleasant surprise. For example, wood is a very stiff, rigid material, but I would like to think that I present it in a very soft, fluid manner. And concrete is generally thought of as a heavy, cold material, but I try to present it in a light, elegant manner. I like to present the materials that I work with in ways that are typically unconventional. My works typically lean towards the minimalist side because the materials I work with already have so much character that already define themselves.
If your art had a soundtrack, what would it be? Vibe, mood, what’s the energy behind your pieces?
There’s one song that I would pair with my work: “Outer Space” by Joey Gx. I’m actually one of those people who don’t listen to any of the lyrics, but I listen for the vibe and beats. This vibe speaks to me. It feels a bit ethereal and definitely has the “outer space” feel. I would like for this song to be playing if I’m ever sitting in a spaceship drifting through space. For some reason, I feel like this song matches the energy of my work. Fun fact about the artist who made this song, this is the only song to ever come from him. There is no known history about him and I have not been able to find anymore music from him either. A complete mystery.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about working with materials like concrete? Anything unexpected that comes with creating art from it?
The biggest misconception about working with concrete is that it’s as easy as mixing in water and then pouring. I definitely had this misconception about it until I embarked on my concrete journey. It’s one of those things that you realize you know nothing about the more you learn about it. I’ve received some very good pointers from guys who have worked with it for decades and they are still learning new things on the job. If you are working with any sort of quality concrete that’s not from Home Depot, then there are things you need to mix in such as sand of a certain grit, water reducer to give it more working time and to make it more fluid, glass fibers to give it strength, crushed ice cubes to get it to the perfect temperature for flow. And everyone has their own ratios and combinations for the perfect recipe. So it’s one of those things where you have to get your hands dirty through trial and error to understand the material. Creating works with concrete is one of the most frustrating times I’ve ever had trying to figure anything out because it takes so much time and effort that it’s absolutely devastating when it doesn’t work out. But this aspect makes the reward the much more savory when things do finally come out successful.
NUGE’s art is proof that contrast can be more than just visual—it’s an experience. From turning concrete into something delicate to embracing the unknown in his creative process, he’s always pushing boundaries while staying true to his minimalist roots. If you’re looking for pieces that bring together unexpected materials with sleek, modern vibes, you might want to keep an eye on what he’s up to next.
Check Out All the Pieces by NUGE HERE
