Tori Ntxoo Hong is a Hmong, queer, and Korean American muralist, activist, and artist. Currently based in San Francisco, her artist name–NTXOO Art reclaims the name she shares with her mother & her sister: Ntxoo [“un-Zong”].
“Encouraged by friends and family, my affinity for drawing began in kindergarten. At the age of 13, I became deeply embedded in internet fan cultures and taught myself how to create graphics and digital illustrations.”
As an adult, Tori began her career as an indie artist in Minneapolis, MN. She has created digital illustrations, murals, printed goods, and community art spaces. Now, her art traces the ingenuity of the natural world; the legacies of her cultures; and the visions of radically inclusive futures.
“My favorite part about being a digital artist is how it’s allowed me to connect with folks from around the world. I have been internationally published and I have worked with one of the largest Asian art collections in the US and supported social justice movements.”
“I moved from Minneapolis to SF in 2021. For many people, the onset of the pandemic exacerbated personal and societal injustices and hardships. I extricated myself from my abusive ex and left a city uprising in honor of Mr. Floyd's life.”
Living in San Francisco has influenced her artwork and practice. She notes that she has become a student in the city. She is grateful for being able to create during the winter which has improved the quality of her work. Tori takes hand lettering and typography more seriously, inspired by the street art in the Mission District. She admires local artists like Victor Reyes for his dedication to expressing meaning through abstraction, color, and form. Tori now is exploring analog and digital art through painting and NFTs.
After 6 years of freelancing through a self-educated illustration practice, Tori applied for an Illustration MFA. She was accepted into RISD, SVA, and MICA and will be leaving for the East Coast this fall.
Feature Published: March 17, 2023
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