Zolly Zoner: Weaving Traditions and Modernity Through Multidisciplinary Art

NATIONWIDE - JANUARY 2026 - (USAnews.com) Zolly Zoner, a multidisciplinary artist born in Hanoi and currently living in Berlin, creates a visual and tactile dialogue between the deep traditions of Asia and the modern, liberal culture of Europe. His practice—incorporating fashion design, painting, and photography—serves as a bridge where the essence of Vietnamese heritage is reimagined through a contemporary lens. By integrating these diverse fields, Zoner tells a personal story centered on humanistic values and environmental protection.

His participation in the international project 100 Artists of Europe highlights a commitment to global artistic exchange, positioning his work within a broader cultural framework that values sustainability and cross-continental identity.

Introduction – Setting the Scene

Zoner’s artistic journey began in early childhood, where he started sketching and painting at just six years old. His trajectory has been defined by a serious pursuit of formal education and a belief that creativity must be grounded in academic knowledge. After winning a national painting award in 2001 focused on environmental protection, he pursued fashion design at the university level in Vietnam and later expanded his expertise at the London Fashion Academy and the Akademie Mode & Design in Germany.

A significant turning point occurred with his move to Berlin, which provided new opportunities and a supportive community for his career. In 2024, he achieved a major milestone by launching his first fashion collection, HuuAnhZon-Berlin, at Paris Fashion Week. Today, his work continues to evolve, fueled by the conviction that art and life must go hand in hand to protect the world we inhabit.

A Style Defined by Contrast and Nature

Zoner’s artistic identity is characterized by a harmonious balance between simplicity and complexity. His visual language often features striking, multi-colored tones—particularly blue, gold, and brown—and is rich with symbolic motifs like the sun, eyes, hands, and ocean waves.

In his fashion design, Zoner prioritizes natural materials such as muslin silk, hemp silk, and bamboo, using them as a "language" to recreate Vietnamese tradition. He employs advanced 3D draping, handmade embroidery, and recycled fabrics to promote sustainable fashion. His paintings, often abstract or surreal, are born from dreams and imagination. Notably, he frequently eschews traditional brushes, using his fingers and hands to apply oil or acrylic paint onto burlap or recycled paper, creating a textured, sculptural 3D effect that invites tactile engagement.

Vision, Method, and Inspiration

For Zoner, inspiration is found in the interplay of opposites: old and new, stillness and movement, hardness and softness. His photography focuses on ancient architecture, ruins, and the faces of homeless individuals, finding a "mysterious charm" and "timeless beauty" in what others might overlook.

This multidisciplinary approach ensures that his fashion, paintings, and photography complement one another, each reinforcing his core message of global responsibility. He views art as a tool for environmental advocacy, stating that art should protect the world just as humans should protect the home that gives them life.

Participation in the Culturale Lab Project

Zoner discovered 100 Artists of Europe through a friend and felt an immediate alignment with the project’s mission. For him, being featured in this curated publication is a significant professional milestone that allows him to introduce his unique blend of Eastern and European styles to an international audience.

The project provides a global stage for Zoner to convey his message about environmental protection and planetary stewardship. It serves as a platform to showcase how an artist can embody multiple cultural identities while maintaining a distinct, personal voice.

Looking Ahead

The year 2026 is set to be a period of expansion for Zolly Zoner. In the realm of fashion, he is preparing to launch a new collection titled Queen of the Desert. Simultaneously, he plans to bridge his two homes by organizing solo exhibitions of his paintings and photography in both Berlin and Vietnam.

Zoner remains dedicated to the idea that art is a process of constant self-discovery. By refusing to limit himself to a single medium, he continues to explore his creative potential, ensuring that his "creative fire" burns brightly across all his chosen fields.

Contact & Links

●     Website / Portfolio: Huu Anh Nguyen on Behance

●     Instagram / Facebook: @zollyzoner

●     Culturale Lab: culturalelab.com