We recently had the chance to connect with Noah Hoffmeister and have shared our conversation below.
Noah, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What are you chasing, and what would happen if you stopped?
I’m chasing what I think most people are chasing right now: a better life. I dream of living in a better world and becoming a better person. I’m chasing that dream every day and I don’t like to think about what will happen if I stop.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, my name is Noah and I’m an artist from Dallas, TX. I illustrate and paint both digitally and traditionally, and my work focuses on bright colors with dark and whimsical subject matters. As a trans artist living in the south, I like to explore themes of religion, nostalgia, and the perseverance of human creativity.
Lately I’ve been working on a lot of pet portraits and selling my art in local markets. I love animals as much as I love art, so it’s been amazing combining the two and getting to connect with so many wonderful people and their pets.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
As someone who is just over a year into my gender transition journey, this is something I’ve thought about endlessly. I look back at pictures of me as a little kid and think “Is that who I was? Was I happy like that?” and I look at myself now and wonder why I feel the need to change.
Now more than ever it’s a scary time to be LGBTQ+, and though I was already living as a lesbian I was honestly terrified to come out as trans. Part of me wanted to continue to live closeted and ignore the part of me that wanted to transition in the hopes that it would go away eventually. It got to a point where I realized it wasn’t possible to hate myself into being someone I could love.
It’s hard to say who I was before the world told me who I had to be, but I know I was happier and more carefree. I’m on a journey towards becoming that person again, and part of that is doing things that make me happy regardless of if it fits with what society expects of me. I ask myself “If I was the last person on earth and there was no one else to impress or disappoint, would I still want to do this?” and the if answer is yes I continue. One thing that’s been constant is that I’ve always been an artist, and that’s not going to change.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, I’ve struggled with my physical and mental health since I was a teenager and there have been a few close calls. In 2023 I felt closer than ever to losing the battle and I’m eternally grateful for those who helped me through it.
If anyone reading this is feeling similarly I want you to know that even as bad as things are right now, my life has changed in ways I truly didn’t think were possible. I’m glad I didn’t give up.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
Art is the most accessible skill, and everyone has the ability to make good art. A lot of people want to believe that they just don’t have what it takes to make good art, but that’s not true.
AI art in particular is being marketed as a tool to make art “accessible” but these companies are selling you on the lie that you’ll never be good enough on your own.
You have everything you need to make good art.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m hanging out with my loved ones and eating good food 🙂
Contact Info:
- Website: https://noahhoff.com
- Instagram: @noahrosehoff
Image Credits
Art by Noah Hoffmeister
