Beneath the Ink: Meet @g0thboi.ink
Written by Kimberly Saenz | July 18 2026
Thụy Nguyen, (he/they), is a Dallas-based, trans tattoo artist, known across the internet by the handle @g0thboi.ink. Nguyen’s personal illustration and tattooing style is distinct for its whimsical, animal-like figures paired with the aesthetic and black ink-work of cybersigilism.
Nguyen’s skill is not limited to tattooing, as he earned his B.F.A. in ceramics from the University of North Texas in May of 2020. His iconic little guys can even be seen adorning the curved surfaces of his ceramic bowls, cups, and trinkets.
In continuation of our celebration of local, queer and Asian artists, Thụy willingly shared the intimacies of his art, life, and wisdom with us.
Born in Saigon, Vietnam, Thụy immigrated to the United States at the perceptive age of ten. Via the sponsorship of a distant relative living in Denton, Texas, he and his sister crossed oceans, leaving behind their immediate family for a chance at a better education. Although Vietnam is physically distant, Nguyen maintains deep connection to his roots, “Vietnam is a vibrant country, it’s a hard place to forget. From middle school up until high school, I would fly back there every summer to visit my mom, since she never left Vietnam.”
Living in Dallas now, Nguyen’s found a home in the queer and trans community, “This part of my identity needed safeguarding so that’s where I found my belonging. And the friends I’ve made here are the most loving and accepting regardless of their races.”
Nguyen very gracefully shared with us what it is like to live in the space of plural dualities that are at constant risk under societal imposition, and how this informs his art, “You don’t have to be one way or another, you can indeed exist in between that gray space. As fluid and transitional as the passing of time. That uncertainty feels like freedom to me, in a world filled with made up structures.” With an infectiously liberating tone, he stated there really is no limit to life and identity, “The beauty of duality is that they both coexist with each other.” He explains that this philosophy is present in his art, as he utilizes black ink and white space to place the observer in the space between meaninglessness and connection, to decide for themselves how to fill the gaps.
This conversation of duality is enmeshed with gender identity and expression; all of which fall victim to varying levels of oppression. Despite this, Nguyen approached the subject with declarative, but thoughtful truths, “I have and will always identify as trans, even if my definition of being trans looks different to another person in the same community… Take our physical bodies out of the equation, we are just our consciousness (or soul if you believe in that). Our consciousness is genderless, fluid, and ever changing.” He cites his spirituality, as he views his existence as a vessel for the universe to communicate through, a detail which is reflected in his ability to create liquid-like characters that function similarly to our idea of metaphysical consciousness/souls.
“As for my gender expression, it really just depends on the mood of the day. Dressing feminine doesn’t take away from my masculinity. Just because I’m showing my feminine side doesn’t mean my masculine side doesn’t exist. And vice versa.” He broached the complexities of gender expression with a simplicity like a breath of fresh air and the necessary frankness needed to resist the policing of our autonomy.
To circle back to his art, we talked about what shaped his interest in tattooing and ceramics. “I have always been immersed in art. Ever since I could remember, I have been drawing. One of my favorite media was manga. I would teach myself how to draw by copying panels.” This is evident in his signature style, as it is reminiscent of black-and-white comic strips. With regards to his education, Nguyen thought ceramics would be a good way to master a craft, one which is malleable in practice and teaching to others. A sound logic, which applies equally to the world of tattooing.
In determining his own style as an artist, he notes that he is a rather straightforward person, who appreciates simplicity and honesty in others as well. “It is through a lot of self-reflection and a process of picking and choosing which aspects of yourself or your art that you like, want to change, or improve upon. Art is about the self at the end of the day.” Nguyen subverts what it means to see things in black-and-white, using it as a means of self-empowerment and discovery, rather than passively, or through a conventional lens.
To end on a note of appreciation for Vietnamese culture and art, Thụy Nguyen imparts a piece of home with us, “I miss home everyday… My favorite dish that always reminds me of home is thịt kho, or caramelized pork belly. The taste of my mom’s cooking is the only thing I have to remember her by, so being able to replicate that has been my biggest accomplishment for myself.”
He also contributed a lengthy list of artists who have influenced him, “I’m really inspired by Hayao Miyazaki, Fujiko Fujio, Ai Yazawa and CLAMP. Hayao Miyazaki inspired me with his world views, on life, on love, on everything. Fujiko Fujio, the creators of Doraemon, created a well beloved character and impacted an entire generation with their robot cat. To be able to create characters and storyline that would move hearts is my biggest dream so I look up to them. Ai Yazawa and CLAMP are amazing women mangaka. CLAMP was my whole childhood actually. Their writing on love and friendships, and just how beautiful their art style and storyline is, has impacted me greatly as an artist.”
There is no limit to the amount of love resonating from Nguyen through his words to us; it very obviously exists in everything he does. If you’re looking for a welcoming tattoo artist in the DFW area, check out @g0thboi.ink on socials. We leave you with more of Nguyen’s clarity, (as we can’t get enough of it), “Love is a union of duality, of the good and bad. To love is to embrace the two very different sides of you (and others) and meet them both with grace and acceptance. That is what I believe in and that is how I try to move in the world and how I create my art.”
