Nymphia Wind on Art and Identity

Drag is like performance art. It’s the art of finding the courage and the power to express yourself. And I think that does require a lot of energy and a lot of determination.

In June 2026, The Asian Art Museum exhibited three gowns by famed drag artist Nymphia Wind, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 16. The Drag Race champion — out of drag — took the stage for an artist talk, and captivated a roomful of adoring fans with the stories behind each iconic gown, and on embracing their own queer-Taiwanese identity. “Getting on Drag Race,” Nymphia said, “I’ve learned the lesson, you can’t make everyone love you or like you. There’s always going to be a hater. Even the pyramids in Egypt have bad reviews.”