Nou-chee Chang

illustrator / intermediate videographer

BIOGRAPHY

Nou-Chee Chang is a Hmong-American illustrator, comic artist, and graduate candidate based in North Minneapolis. Their work blends bold, saturated color palettes with deeply personal themes, exploring the intersections of queerness, substance misuse—particularly within the Hmong diaspora—and mental health. Through illustration, comics, and experimental animation, Nou-Chee brings visibility to narratives often marginalized or overlooked, especially within Southeast Asian and queer communities.

Rooted in a commitment to storytelling and healing, Nou-Chee’s art often reflects their lived experiences growing up in Minneapolis. They are currently developing a graphic novel that reimagines their childhood and coming-of-age journey, told through the lens of memory, identity, and generational trauma. Outside of the studio, Nou-Chee is a dedicated researcher focusing on critical media theory, queerness, and how visual narratives influence and reflect cultural identity.

As both a practicing artist and academic, Nou-Chee balances theory and expression to challenge stigmas and expand conversations around mental health and queerness in Hmong communities. Whether through a single frame or a full-length comic, their work aims to connect, disrupt, and invite reflection.

Qualifications

Nou-Chee is a skilled illustrator with advanced proficiency in industry-standard software including Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Clip Studio Paint, and Procreate. Their creative practice also includes audio editing in Audacity and intermediate-level video production. Nou-Chee has experience in comic development, character design, digital painting, and visual storytelling, with a focus on identity, cultural memory, and social commentary.

SKills

  • Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Clip Studio Paint, Procreate, Audacity

  • illustrating

  • intermediate videography

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