NIXON TRAN
Founder & Principal Instructor
A practice shaped by flowers, people, and time.
Nixon Tran is a floral artist and Sogetsu ikebana teacher from San Francisco, and the founder of When Still in Ho Chi Minh City. His practice brings together more than twenty-five years of working with flowers and a continuing study of ikebana. Through teaching, exhibitions, and everyday practice, he explores how arranging can deepen our attention to materials, our surroundings, and one another.
BACKGROUND & PRACTICE
Nixon began working with flowers at fourteen in a San Francisco flower shop. His experience grew across retail floristry, weddings, events, film, and wholesale, giving him a practical understanding of flowers and the many ways people encounter them.
His study of Sogetsu ikebana with Soho Sakai brought another dimension to that work. Through ikebana, technique became closely connected to observation: understanding the character of a branch, the direction of a line, and the space that allows a composition to breathe. He has been a Sogetsu teacher since 2011 and holds the rank of Jonin Somu.
In 2023, he founded When Still in Ho Chi Minh City. The studio has grown into a community of students and teachers who learn through regular practice, shared exhibitions, and an ongoing exchange of ideas. His work at When Still brings his experience as a florist into conversation with the discipline and creative freedom of Sogetsu.
APPROACH TO TEACHING
Nixon’s teaching begins with looking closely. A stem’s direction, a change in proportion, or a small adjustment in space can alter the feeling of an entire arrangement. He encourages students to understand those decisions through making, observing, and trying again.
Technique provides a foundation for that exploration. As students develop confidence, they are encouraged to make thoughtful choices and recognise what their materials can offer. Alongside the finished arrangement, Nixon gives attention to the process: how we respond to difficulty, work with change, and discover possibilities through practice.
STUDY & RECOGNITION
Sogetsu teacher since 2011
Jonin Somu, Sogetsu School of Ikebana
Student of Soho Sakai, San Francisco
Tsukino-Fune Award, 2024 and 2025
