Tammy Nguyen Artist Talk

Studio Arts Building Room 204 

During her residency with the University Museum of Contemporary Art, which began over the summer of 2025, Nguyen closely studied documents related to U.S. nuclear diplomacy and Ellsberg’s Paradox, a theory about how ambiguity influences human decision-making. In particular, a key lecture presented at the Lowell Institute in 1959, “The Political Uses of Madness,” provides a conceptual frame (and title) for the exhibition.

During her artist talk, Nguyen will discuss the research in UMass's special collections that inspired her exhibition, The Political Uses of Madness, on view at the museum through May 8. Learn more about the exhibition.

Nguyen's talk will be followed by a conversation with Christian G. Appy, professor of history and director of the Daniel Ellsberg Initiative for Peace and Democracy at UMass.

This event is co-hosted with the Department of Art.