Nancy Chang’s artwork weaves together themes of ecology, identity, and belonging, inviting viewers to explore their relationship with the natural world. Reflecting on cherished moments from her childhood, Chang’s work celebrates her earliest friends: the trees, soil, and plants from her local parks.

Working across mediums such as photography, block printing, comics, and illustration, Chang’s work invites pause and reflection. As a process-driven artist, Chang develops intimacy with her subjects and art materials. She creates natural dyes from the plants she harvests, and asks her subjects to take her to the places where they feel the most joy.

Chang doesn’t just pause; she asks us to pause alongside her. She curates multi-sensory experiences, asking us to paint with pigments from the earth or giving us instructions on how to mindfully eat a peach in a warm patch of sunlight. By prompting us to remember our relationship to nature, she fosters a deeper shared responsibility for the preservation of our planet.

Artists-in-Residence Program

At Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose, we believe that the arts are a place where we are able to discover ourselves, explore the world around us, imagine brilliant futures, and connect with our communities. We believe that the arts are not a luxury, and instead, that art and creative expression are a key part of every child’s development and education. We strive to teach children that the arts and culture are not only something they can interact with, but something they can also help to create.