What happens when you follow your instincts | Dana Goh, Angie Van Mulken, and Ali Hval
Sometimes, choosing a creative path isn’t about bold declarations but quiet instincts. It’s a soft, steady pull toward what makes us feel most alive. That’s what Dana Goh, Angie Van Mulken, and Ali Hval have in common. Though their work looks wildly different—textile-based installations, dreamlike paintings, and sparkling oversized sculptures—they each share a love for making things that speak to who they are and how they see the world.
In their stories, we hear about the quiet joy of making things by hand, the courage to start again during uncertain times, and the freedom from refusing to fit into boxes. Whether turning sunlight into textile, painting dreamscapes that pull you in, or crafting oversized glittery sculptures with a wink, each artist invites us into a world built from instinct, play, and a sense of wonder.
Through them, we learn that there is no single path to being an artist. It’s about noticing what lights you up, staying open to change, and trusting that your way of seeing the world is worth sharing.
Dana Goh on Catching Fleeting Moments in Fabric
For Dana Goh, the magic is in the little things—a glimmer of sunlight, a breeze across your face, the sparkle on a keychain. Born in Singapore and living between London and her hometown, Dana has always been drawn to softness. She turns gentle, everyday moments into intricate textile sculptures and installations through tufting, weaving, and fabric manipulation.
“I’ve always been a kid who needed to make things with my hands,” Dana says. “I tell myself there’s nothing wrong with making work just for the joy of it. Pretty things are still meaningful.”
Influenced by her mother’s cake designs and the world’s delicate textures, Dana creates pieces that invite people to slow down and feel. Her pastel tones, layers, and tactile materials ask us to notice what’s often missed. It’s not about making noise—it’s about honouring quiet wonder.
A major inspiration for me is my mother who loved baking cakes, cakes that were decorated with sculptural flowers and figurines.
To learn more about Dana, click on the links below.
Angie Van Mulken: From Street Markets to Finding Her Flow
Angie Van Mulken’s creative path circled back to her during an unlikely time: the COVID-19 lockdown. With work on pause, she picked up her paintbrush and let her instincts guide her. What began as a way to pass time became something much bigger.
“I’ve always loved art,” she says. “But during the pandemic, it felt like now or never. I started selling at a street market, then posting on social media—and the response surprised me.”
Based on the differences between Hawaii and Seattle, Angie’s work feels playful and dreamlike. She refuses to pin herself to one medium or style, instead following what feels right. Her paintings often have a whimsical touch, with colours and forms that invite curiosity.
“I don’t want to be boxed in,” she adds. “I’m still growing. That’s part of the fun.”
Her journey reminds us that starting something doesn’t require a perfect plan—it just requires courage.
I’ve always created art to make a unique, original piece. While I would enjoy the finished works to be pleasing to others, it’s never been the priority.
To learn more about Angie, visit the links below.
Ali Hval on Glitter, Humour, and a Wink at Serious Things
Ali Hval doesn’t hold back. Her sculptures are big, sparkly, and impossible to ignore. Made from rhinestones, glossy nail polish, pom-poms, and ceramics, her oversized pieces resemble jewellery, shoes, or glittery household objects—but with a twist.
“At first, they shimmer,” Ali explains, “but up close, they carry something a little weirder, maybe even a bit uncomfortable.”
Raised in the South and now based in Iowa, Ali’s playful work pokes at bigger questions—about gender, expectations, and how women are seen. Her larger-than-life sculptures are often self-portraits in disguise, shaped by her experiences but speaking to a shared sense of navigating the world as a woman.
She creates with humour, honesty, and a touch of chaos—and her message is clear: beauty and seriousness don’t have to be opposites.
“I’ve always wanted to make things,” she says. “Even as a kid, I was into mud pies and sidewalk chalk. Now I just use more glitter.”
From afar, my work sparkles and seduces with frilly, glittering surfaces. Up close, it reveals layers of political commentary, feminist critique, and the quieter, everyday stories of being a woman.
To learn more about Ali, click on the links below.
Hearing from Dana Goh, Angie Van Mulken, and Ali Hval is like being let in on three very different, very real conversations about creativity—ones that don’t try to impress, but invite you to listen, feel, and maybe even make something yourself.
These artists have opened up about what fuels their work: the beauty in soft, quiet details; the joy of starting over; and the humour and honesty tucked into sparkly, oversized sculptures. Their journeys remind us that making art isn’t about fitting into a mould. It can be about letting curiosity lead, trusting your instincts, and finding comfort in the process, even when things feel uncertain.
What we learn from them is simple but meaningful: You don’t need a perfect plan or a polished idea to begin. You just need a starting point—and the willingness to follow where it takes you. Whether it’s soft pastels, dreamy textures, or glittery ceramics, each artist has shown us that staying true to what feels honest is more than enough.
In the end, their stories aren’t just about what they make. They’re about the quiet courage to keep going, the joy of experimenting, and the lasting impact of doing something that feels real.
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