Meet Karen
Passion for Creating
I've been blessed by having the opportunity to travel, for work and pleasure, to 50+ different countries and experience the global diversity in cultures, art and cuisine. Philosophically, I feel compelled to share these experiences, through my work. I've created a series of companies around inspiration including Inspired Art Wine (IAW), an art studio, wine bar and gallery based out of Costa Mesa, CA.
Since 2016, IAW counts 20,000+ customers, 250+ corporate clients and I look forward to impacting more! From a three-year old toddler to a ninety-seven-year-old grandma, my mission has always been to educate, entertain and inspire anyone who is wanting and willing to learn regardless of their age, background or artistic level. Over the years, I’ve taught close to 10,000 students at my studio across various mediums: acrylic, watercolor and mixed media.
The students I've taught have inspired me to offer my art to a wider audience beyond my location. My own personal work primarily focuses on abstract acrylic paintings. I am a minimalist when it comes to the tools of the trade with pieces created using business cards, corks and dental floss. My goal in every piece is make it timeless, gender, racial and cultural agnostic so that each visual creation evokes various emotions to any viewer.
Press & Media
VoyageLA Magazine
VoyageLA Magazine
VoyageLA Magazine
February 13, 2018
Meet Karen Nguyen of Inspired Art Wine
UC Irvine
VoyageLA Magazine
VoyageLA Magazine
February 27, 2018
Alumna Karen Nguyen left her established corporate career for the exciting world of wine, art, and entrepreneurship
iHeart Costa Mesa
iHeart Costa Mesa
iHeart Costa Mesa
August 10, 2018
Coloring Outside the Wines
Shout LA
iHeart Costa Mesa
iHeart Costa Mesa
September 21, 2020
Meet Karen: Entrepreneur, Educator & Artist
When I launched Inspired Vineyards in 2021, the goal was to capture my passion for art and wine in a bottle. More importantly, producing wines that are approachable on the palate at a reasonable cost. The label for the 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon trio pays homage to my motherland. If you have visited Vietnam, you may recognize the names of these labels: Sapa, Da Nang and Phu Quoc. If you haven’t been to this beautiful country, the wine labels are meant to be a collection of beautiful destinations in Vietnam. The labels are varnished prints of my larger paintings (4 feet) so when you’re done sipping the wine, you can keep the bottle as art keepsake. Most put fairy lights on the bottle, and it becomes a table centerpiece.
In the 2022, after weeks of evaluation by a panel of professional winemakers and winery principals for the 46th OC Fair Commercial Wine Competition, the three wine labels for my 2018 Cabernet Sauvignon Trio was awarded Gold Medal for the Thematic Category. Over 2,500 wines were entered cataloged by varietal, price and sugar levels so this is a true honor!