Andy Nabong is a classical traditional painter and educator based in Vienna, Austria. He is the founder and principal instructor of the Vienna Atelier of Traditional Art (VATA). His artistic philosophy draws from the works of Rembrandt, Rubens, van Dyck, Velázquez, Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Bouguereau, whose approaches continue to influence both his teaching and professional practice.
Nabong's path to becoming a professional artist was unconventional. Before pursuing painting full-time, he built a successful career as a therapist and psychology researcher in New York City. In 2016, he left psychology and moved to Austria to dedicate himself entirely to fine art.
His artistic education began at the Art Students League of New York before continuing at the Grand Central Atelier, where he immersed himself in the atelier tradition of drawing and painting from life. He further refined his technical skills at the Academy of Realist Art in Canada and later at the Florence Academy of Art in Italy.
His dedication to excellence has earned international recognition. In 2019, he received a certificate of recognition from the Russian Imperial Academy of Arts in St. Petersburg in acknowledgment of his artistic achievements. More recently, on 5 July 2026, he was awarded the prestigious High Commemorative Rembrandt Award by Academia Italia in Arte nel Mondo Associazione Culturale. During the same ceremony, the academy conferred upon him the honorary title of Maestro, recognizing both his accomplishments as a painter and his commitment to preserving and teaching the traditions of classical art.
Over the years, Nabong's paintings and drawings have been exhibited internationally in Europe and the United States. Among the highlights of his recent exhibition career was his participation in Art Capital 2026 at the historic Grand Palais in Paris, France.
His international exhibition record also includes presentations at the United Nations in Vienna (March 2026), exhibitions in Lecce, Italy (July 2026). During 2025, his work was exhibited at the Public Artists Gallery in Vienna, the Philippine Embassy in Vienna, and in Zürich, Switzerland.
In addition to his public exhibitions, Nabong has undertaken significant portrait commissions.
Among the most notable is the official portrait of Mother General Zilda Maria de Carmo (Fuentes) of the Congregation of the Figlie di Nostra Signora al Monte Calvario in Rome, Italy, completed in 2025. His paintings are also represented in private collections across Europe and the United States, reflecting growing international appreciation for his work.
In 2021, Wienerin Magazine highlighted his atelier and its contribution to Vienna's classical art scene. That same year, Nabong was included in Kunst in Bewegung, an art publication produced by Schönbrunn Palace showcasing contemporary artists working in Austria. His artistic journey was further documented in the Manila Standard feature article "Glazing Life" by Glaiza Lee (18 March 2026) and by The Filipino Correspondent Network (TFCN) in March 2026.
Nabong is a lifetime member of both the Portrait Society of America and the Austrian Professional Association of Visual Artists, reflecting his active engagement with professional organizations dedicated to the advancement of representational art.