We were lucky to catch up with Noah Kocher recently and have shared our conversation below.
Noah, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Taking a risk in my work has always suited me, it explores the unknown which is where I believe magic can happen. This can be applied to any artist, whenever you try something different, you will find yourself in a place you’ve never been before, which will lead to experimentation. This is where I thrive in my art practice. Experimenting and trying new things always keeps me on my toes, and gets me excited. I strongly recommend that every artist try new things.
Noah, 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?
My name is Noah Kocher, NoKo for short. I am a visual artist born in TN, currently living and working in Brooklyn, NY. I have been making art for the last 10 years of my life, but it has changed and grown just like myself throughout the years. When I first started drawing it was right when I graduated high school. I went to community college for a semester, and ended up dropping out because I was wasting my time. But I did take an art history class, which lead me to start doodling inside my notebook during class. Eventually the doodles became more serious, and then I decided to put a couple drawings on some shirts. They were actually selling, and my mind was completely blown. I always thought the idea of being an artist was cool, but never believed it was something that I could do. Eventually I decided to move out of my mom’s house, and live on my own for the first time. I settled down in Chattanooga, TN just a couple hours away from Nashville. Chattanooga ended up being the city where my Art really first started. I was apart of multiple group shows, and two solo shows while living there. I made pizzas as my day job then painted with every spare second I had. By this time I was creating abstract paintings rather quickly, while being very experimental throughout the process. Sadly I had to leave abruptly after a two years. I had to move back in with my mother because I was out of options. This ended up being a silver lining, because I met a woman named Alyssa while working in a restaurant in the city I went to high school in. Six months later we decide we’re tired of Tennessee so we move to Asheville together in our own apartment. Definitely a learning curve, as it was both of our first times living with our partner, but it helps that we’re both artists. While we’re living there Alyssa finds someone on craigslist that was giving away 700+ National Geographic magazines throughout all the years for free. Of course we immediately jumped on it, and this is what catapulted the medium of collage for me. Eventually after I’ve started to get the hang of the medium itself, and have a good amount of works under my belt, I start to have music artists reach out to work with me on cover art. About two years after living in Asheville, we visit NYC for the first time in 2018 and completely fall in love with it, me and Alyssa make the move just 4 months later. The first year of NYC was very scary, I didn’t know very many people, and I continued working a couple jobs to make ends meet. Pandemic hits in 2020, and I’m forced to quit my job, I was terrified at first, but this ended up being a silver lining. Within the first month of me losing my job, I make double what I did working a job just selling Art. Eventually I’m able to purchase my first Macbook from Art money. This was a huge accomplishment for me, not only was I doing art full time, but I was able to invest in a laptop to further my career. Once I discover the liquify tool, it so effortlessly becomes a consistent part of my process. I like to add this effect to my collages because it elevates it to a new level. Rather than just being a physical piece of work, it now exists only on a screen because I cannot use the liquify tool in real life (yet). Now at this point I am still living off my work, while working an artist assistant job two days a week to continue to further my career. I maintain income from my art through Art prints from my own at home printer, original work sales, merchandise (Blankets, shirts, stickers, pins, etc), NFT sales, album/EP Art, and freelance design work. To be at this point three years later, still living off my Art, is something I was dreaming of for years. I am so thankful to be in the position that I’m in, and I refuse to take it for granted. I plan on releasing new art drops on a regular basis on my website, nokoart.com. Check it out and follow me on social media to stay updated!
Alright – so here’s a fun one. What do you think about NFTs?
I understand that NFTs are painted in a bad light for the majority of the world, and even some artists. I think this comes from a lack of understanding. I am a part of a community on twitter full of artists emerged in the NFT space and able to be their own boss because of it. NFTs give artists the power to be their sole proprietor, no gallery or middle man. I have seen NFTs change so many artists’ lives including myself. I think with time, they will become mainstream just like other new tech discoveries such as the computer and the iphone.
How did you build your audience on social media?
My social media took a very long time for it to get to the point that it’s at now. I shared my art for more than 5 years before things really started to gain traction, I know it can be hard, but you cant compare, it’s not doing anything for you. Just put things out there for yourself and only yourself. Don’t expect anything, and you can’t be disappointed. I think another important thing to remind yourself of is why you are creating art in the first place. Are you creating art for yourself? If so, then the likes shouldn’t matter. Art should be shared no matter if it gets attention or not. Share it because you want to, nothing else. Eventually, after practicing patience for however long it takes, things will start to gain traction. The universe rewards patience, trust the process. 
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nokoart.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noahkocherart/?hl=en
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/nolankosher?lang=en