We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Noble Dre Ali a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Noble Dre Ali, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

One meaningful project I’ve been involved in is the New York Botanical Gardens’ “Around the Table” art exhibit. This exhibit centers on the theme that food is at the heart of many of life’s most important events. When we gather for a meal, the dishes we share often tell a story, sharing a bit of ourselves in the process. The exhibit explores the rich cultural history of what we eat, examining the art and science of foodways and food traditions, many dating back thousands of years.

Spread across NYBG’s 250-acre landscape, the exhibit reveals the botanical origins of familiar foods, offers a deeper understanding of the environmental and social impacts of food choices throughout history, and features artist-designed tables that highlight the significance of various plants, bringing to life inspiring stories of community and survival.

For this project, I created a mural on a picnic table in honor of my late Grandma, Ruth Harrison, who transitioned at 100 years old. This mural not only paid tribute to her but also represented the exhibit’s theme, “Around the Table,” by sharing stories of the foods we love. Additionally, I will be providing in-person workshops and events while the exhibit is on display. This project has been a heartfelt way to honor my grandmother’s legacy and contribute to a meaningful exploration of food and culture.

Noble Dre Ali, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Peace all I am Noble Dre*Ali, a visual artist hailing from The Bronx, NYC. I consider my works as spiritual pop art, by utilizing popular cultural imagery and infusing it with spiritual symbolism. My aim is to connect the ancient with the future beautifully. Within my creative process I pull from history, ancient civilizations, comics books, mythology, science fiction, music, and religion to create a harmony between juxtaposed ideology and imagery. With my BA in Studio Art from CUNY, it allowed me to create comfortably in multiple mediums such as: screen printing, sculpture, video editing/production, photography, computer animation, painting, drawing, stencils and collage.

I embody the true spirit of an artist with my abilities going way beyond the visual arts. I’m highly proficient in the Martial Arts (3rd degree black belt) with close to 30 years of training. In Culinary Arts more than 20 years’ experience, 1st beginning as a dish washer and working my way up to Cook. My latest venture is into the Healing Arts and the cultivation of internal energy. I have been practicing Qi Gong regularly and have attained my Reiki practitioner 2 Certification. I find that the more I expand myself artistically the greater I become in each form of Art!

As of recent I have been expanding my creative work with community based projects. Since 2019 I have been collaborating with many amazing Bronx organizations/companies to bring art, creative events, workshops and murals. I have worked with New York Botanical Gardens, Bronx Council of the Arts, Bronx Art Space, Bronx Bound Books and Bronx Native to provide workshops, art murals plus creative events; all free for the community. I truly enjoy sharing my creative skills in new ways that better my Bronx community and assist residents to tap into their own creativity.

Co-founder of Noble Alkhemy with wife Dee; a lifestyle transformation brand with core values in Creativity, Empowerment, Spirit and Wellness. Building on this foundation, we strive to produce Art, Merchandise and Services that reflect these ideals. Our mission is to provide quality workshops, art, events and products that promote transformation to a greater you. We are a dynamic husband and wife team that know and utilize the power of Alchemy for personal growth, transformation and elevation.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

In the summer of 2013, my father passed away from cancer, and it put me in a very dark place. Seeing my father wither away from this disease took a tremendous toll on me mentally. However, I found a way to overcome this obstacle through art. At that time, I was working as a graphic artist, but I didn’t consider myself an artist in the truest sense.

The pain I felt from losing my Pops was overwhelming, but I was able to transmute it into something beautiful and healing through my creativity. During this period, I created a piece that still inspires me to this day: a lit candle done in watercolor and marker. Looking back, this artwork has become a symbol for me, reminding me that there is always light, even in the darkest moments.

Creating that piece marked a turning point in my life. I dove headfirst into art with a strong desire to create at the highest level possible. My art journey has since coincided with my spiritual path; I view them as one and the same. I feel that my art is an extension of my spirit, and through the loss of my Dad, I was able to connect with my higher purpose and live a fulfilling life.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

During the pandemic, I got caught up in the initial craze of NFTs and quickly learned how to create and upload them. I was very excited about NFTs because the majority of my artworks are created digitally, and this provided a marketplace to sell my digital art. I appreciated that with digital crypto art, you can attach utilities to your download to unlock many other features, plus the ability to make a profit from the resale of your work is an amazing feature.

I immersed myself in learning as much as possible about NFTs and created a few that are available at “opensea.io/collection/noble-dre-ali”. In addition to learning about NFTs, I also conducted a three-part workshop for The Bronx Council of the Arts to introduce this new technology to local artists. My goal was to simplify the process, make it more understandable, and demonstrate practical applications.

Looking ahead, I aim to utilize NFTs in conjunction with my physical art and prints, providing both a physical and digital asset that holds value. I believe that in the near future, NFTs will be utilized more effectively and can significantly assist with artist growth and longevity.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nobledreali.com
• Instagram: @Noble_dre_ali
• Twitter: @Noble_dre_ali
• Youtube: @nobledreali7012
• Other: https://www.noblealkhemy.com

Image Credits

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