Meet Tori Hong | Interdisciplinary artist & illustrator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tori Hong and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tori, we’d love to start by asking you about lessons learned. Is there a lesson you can share with us?
I’ve been running my creative business since 2017. It’s a privilege to receive funding, support, and recognition for my artwork. As one can imagine, however, a career in the arts is dynamic and fickle. My business has gone through several iterations, mostly spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic and other critical changes in my personal life. These major disruptions made me reconsider my career path; I had to consciously choose to (re)commit to art.

Throughout all of the highs and lows, the most important lesson I’ve learned is the significance of grit. Although typically seen as a characteristic of individualism, grit cannot be achieved alone. To get through difficult moments of my career, I relied on my intuition, family, peers, and community. That grit — that stubbornness, perseverance, and delusion even — is how I made significant break throughs.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I pursue an interdisciplinary art practice working across digital illustration, painting, and textile art. Positioned within queer theory and praxis, my work explores identity, interpersonal relationships, and collective liberation. I embrace research and my intuition, often incorporating history and traditional Hmong and Korean art forms into my contemporary work. Maximalist and bold, much of what I create exists in the intersections of celebration, protest, and ritual.

Today I run an illustration studio Ntxoo Art, maintain a fine art practice, and work toward my Illustration MFA at the Rhode Island School of Design. Like many artists, I had an unconventional career path that required conviction, grit, and a strong support network to get to where I am today.

My entry point into illustration was through coordinating community art events and creating political illustrations. This experience taught me the importance of making art that responds to and resonates with the world around me. Because of the impacts of COVID-19, I entered a prolonged period of disconnection, hibernation, and introspection. This experience taught me the importance of making art for myself.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Right now I live in Providence, Rhode Island. As a RISD student I love to show visitors the campus, especially the Nature Lab, RISD Museum, and Fleet Library. If you like nature, Roger Williams Park is a great place to enjoy lakeside walking paths, an indoor and outdoor botanical garden, a zoo, and more. Grab sliders from Harry’s Burgers & Bar, pad see ew from Heng Thai, and coffee from Small Format Cafe. For the artists, AS220 has robust programming that ranges from community art classes to live music. Avenue Concept has outdoor wall space for artists to legally practice aerosol art.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate this Shoutout to my parents, my sister Angelina, and my best friend Cori. You loved me through my lowest moments and shaped me into the person I am today. Thank you.

Website: https://ntxoo.art/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ntxoo.art

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tori-hong/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NTXOO.art/

Image Credits
Courtesy of the artist