Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nuohan Jiang. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Nuohan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

As I grew up, I heard a lot about how it is almost impossible to make a living as an artist and that only a few exceptionally talented people can achieve that. These notions intimidated me and made me think that becoming an artist was just a daydream. When I was about to go to college, I discovered jewelry-making by chance. At that time, I felt that it was a more practical form of art that allowed me to express creativity while also making a living. Although I had an amazing time learning jewelry and metalsmithing at Pratt, I realized my passion for painting was still there when I took an Intro to Painting class.

I was about to finish my sophomore year at Pratt before the pandemic hit the world. I took a gap year during the pandemic and did more research about the field of contemporary art and current artists. I also started to organize exhibitions and met more people. I discovered that while being an artist isn’t easy and making a living from it may be challenging, it is still possible and many people are doing it. I found that although not everyone earns a full-time living from their artistic careers, they keep creating and finding their own ways of making a living while pursuing art. 

During the pandemic, I realized how fleeting life is and felt blessed to have the chance to explore and create art. I still enjoy and appreciate jewelry making, but I am determined to follow my heart and dedicate myself to creating artwork that I’m proud of. I believe that by letting go of worldly expectations of success and comparisons with others, I can make stronger and more confident choices.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Hi! My name is Nuohan Jiang. I also often go by Nuo. I am an artist based in Brooklyn and primarily paint in oils. 

My paintings explore human’s timeless fascination with the mysteries of the universe and invite viewers on a journey of self-discovery. Symbols abound in my works —spheres, mist, light, shimmering fragments, ripples, and holes. They exist in undefined space, alluding to both the cosmic vastness and the intricate landscapes of the mind. The work revolves around the themes of the boundless expanse of the void, the non-linear perception of time, and the contrast and co-existence of transience and immortality. The paintings are often meditative. They whisper to the viewers and open up the space for contemplation. My paintings were shown at the Highline Nine Gallery, Anderson Contemporary, iidrr Gallery, and BAU Gallery in New York. 

I am also the founder of Artists Living Room, where I have organized five in-person shows and three online shows. I started Artists Living Room to bring together people who share a passion for art and are open to experimentation. I hope to bring viewers closer to artworks and artists, so I often incorporate interactive elements in exhibitions. Sometimes the whole curatorial concept revolves around interactions like Stories and Jewelry, where we collected people’s stories through the open call and invited three jewelry artists to transform the stories into jewelry. We also had volunteers wear the jewelry pieces and hold a white coffee cup during the opening. We let the viewers know that they can find people who held white coffee cups to hear the stories, discuss the work, and see the jewelry. 

The most recent show in Artists Living Room was At a Moment Like This. We invited viewers to leave anonymous comments about the works on cards. The show was an experiment of helping artists to receive feedback from strangers, which seldom happens at other times. I am glad how well it turned out and will possibly expand the concept further!

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I believe creating is a way of sharing ideas and thoughts. I have always hoped that my paintings are an invitation to seek inner peace, and through my paintings, viewers can enjoy a moment of quietness. My paintings express humans’ timeless fascination with the mysteries of the universe. Ultimately, that is the desire to know more about ourselves, like the origin of our existence and why we are here. Whether there’s a definite answer to these questions, I see life as a journey of self-discovery. There is always too much chaos in the world, so I think it is important to find inner peace amidst the chaos along the journey.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I have been feeling very rewarding when creating these recent paintings about the universe and inviting the audience for self-discovery. I enjoy the process of figuring the paintings out. Even when I feel stuck when creating particular paintings, I have gradually gained the confidence to know that the feeling of uncertainty is usually a chance for a breakthrough. For example, I spend more time when painting The Echoes and Ripples of Echoes. I learned so much from the process and they gave me new inspirations. It is lucky and rewarding to be an artist because we get to explore the world and ourselves in more ways. And I always feel so happy when people tell me they feel something from my paintings.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nuohanjiang.com
• Instagram: @nuon.art
• Other: Artists Living Room’s IG: @artistslivingroom

Image Credits

Image credits: Jaden