Daily Inspiration: Meet Indi Ho

Today we’d like to introduce you to Indi Ho.

Hi Indi, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Hello! My name is Indi Ho (she/ they), and I am an illustrator, designer, and fine arts crafter raised in the OC but now residing in San Gabriel Valley. For me, art was a form of expression and escapism. I grew up as a queer Taiwanese and Chinese American in a rather tumultuous home life with a hyper-religious and conservative parent figure. As you can imagine, verbally communicating about my personal life and thoughts was not very welcomed. Art was a way for me to create different realms that I could transfer myself into or to create friendly characters to surround myself with.

My childhood was filled with illustrations of animals, cartoons, and comics I created myself. I would imagine silly stories with my sister with comics about our childhood dog, Rosie, secretly being a magical girl protecting the earth from evil forces. I grew an attachment for fantastical worlds, found family, and animals (especially dogs). I used to spend hours just studying the Nintendogs species guides and would identify them anytime I saw them on the street. I’ve carried this level of passion into all of my creations, but to be honest, I did not imagine myself becoming an artist. I combatted with the responsibility and family expectations that I would pursue a STEM field, so my creative side came to a lull during my high school years. I had a very hard time during this period. It wasn’t until I entered community college that I decided to take art classes as an elective that my passion for art was reignited. I have much gratitude towards my professor and now friend, Joseph Gerges, who inspired me to pursue art, but also showed me that having a future in the world of art is possible and continues to support me. It meant a lot to me because I did not grow up around any artists.

During my time at community college, I also want to thank Jose Zelaya, a senior character designer at Disney, who took notice of my work during a talk at my school and later on became my mentor and gave me support as well. Both of their support encouraged me to try my hand at a future in art. Because art was a form of comfort and joy for me growing up, I wanted to have a future where I could share my art and provide that same sense of comfort to others. To appease my family, I applied to many UC’s for college but also sent an application to ArtCenter College of Design. I was able to continue my studies in Illustration Design at ArtCenter, which I graduated from last summer. Through my time at this school, I have learned to bring my stories to life in many forms. With the challenges and opposition I faced, I am extremely grateful that I am able to create art for a living today.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
As I touched on before, it was not the easiest road. My family and even some peers did not have much faith in me having a future in art. I still face opposition from my family today. They did not grow up around art or have as much of an understanding of art careers. It has been difficult trying to communicate art careers to my family that has not grown up knowing about them, so I try to be understanding of their perspective too. My dad wanted me to pursue STEM as well and wanted me to go to Caltech like him, so I make jokes about how I chose to attend the art school right across the street from it. It is tough having doubts from close family, but I am grateful for the growing opportunities I have today to make a living from art and the support from many of my friends and art peers. I also try to be conscious of their sense of tough love, and that they are simply looking out for my wellbeing. I think in time, my determination and continuous pursuit will teach and communicate what I can not show them in words.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work is a culmination of my life lessons and experiences rooted in my identity as a queer Asian American, my rollercoaster of emotions, and most importantly, dogs. I have had the pleasure of being able to share my work as gallery pieces, advertising posters, comic books, zines, punch needle embroidery, felt needle pieces, risographs, printmaking, ceramics and so much more. I navigate a range of topics, from my own stories of past breakups and revelations about estranged family members to silly stories about my dog, Rosie, being a cowboy or dozing off in fantastical environments. I think that art is a vessel to let people laugh, cry, reflect, and express all sorts of emotions. I love exploring different mediums and continue to explore new ways to present my art. I feel the proudest of my evolution in personal storytelling, where I’ve learned to be vulnerable about my life so that others may come together to share or empathize with their unique experiences yet universal struggles and life lessons. I think that my unique upbringing, reflection of deeper topics, yet sillier and colorful approaches sets me apart from others.

What matters most to you?
Well, I think my friends would easily guess this answer, but my childhood dog, Rosie, is deeply important to me. I have had her since I was ten years old and she will be 15 years old next month. Throughout my life, I have moved a lot and have had strained family relationships, but Rosie has always been a constant for me. She was with me since my elementary school days, through tough breakups in my later years, and was present for my college graduating day in a little pink stroller as a now senior dog. She is the sweetest friend and truly unforgettable.

I also have a deep love for comfortable, cute characters like Miffy, Pompompurin, Gaspard and Lisa.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://indiho.art/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indihoart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/indi-ho-5a6782271/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/indihoart
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@indihoart?si=XJIZtkUCLTEhJE9z
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@indihoart https://www.inprnt.com/gallery/indihoart/