Brigette Hoffman
Brigette Hoffman was born in 1991 in Miami, FL, where she lives and works. She was raised in America by German and Nicaraguan parents. Hoffman completed her BFA at The Academy of Fine Arts, Hamburg (Hochschule für Bildende Kunst Hamburg), Germany. Her first institutional exhibition was held at The Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, Germany, in 2019, titled ALLES KNETTEN, Metamorphose eines Materials. Hoffmans' work draws on figurative sculpture, physical animation, and painting. She blends references on themes like play, domesticity and the family, sexuality and identity, money and materiality, death, and the divine. Her installations showcase a wide variety of materials in order to rediscover a lost language of form and color. While her characters can appear unrestrained and wild, they simultaneously depict a childlike simplicity, frankness, and innocence. Most influenced by elements of popular culture and the media, she creates surrealistically charged scenarios filled with a sense of rawness and primitive symbolism. Hoffman's worlds are anti-imperial and non-hierarchical. With a youthful palette, her intuitive process brings the material at hand to life.
Collect Bean: What does growth mean to you?
Brigette Hoffman: Growth can be a real struggle, but it’s my best buddy. I feel it's all about learning something new every day—whether that’s picking up a skill, diving into another culture, or just becoming a better person. It’s shedding old ways and striving to be the best version of myself for me and for others.
Collect Bean: How do you think your work has evolved?
Brigette Hoffman: Over the past decade, my practice has shifted dramatically. I began with painting and illustration but eventually sought something more fulfilling. Sculpture became my focus because it allows me to bring ideas to life in a tangible and sort of magical way. I feel like I’ve uncovered these new strengths through material exploration, and it’s incredibly rewarding. My connection with clay, for example, has deepened; like I’ve made a lifelong partnership. While painting still holds a special place in my heart, sculpture has become my primary expression.
Collect Bean: How do you approach the balance between experimentation and consistency?
Brigette Hoffman: I believe consistency and experimentation go hand in hand. Too much experimentation can lead to chaos while being overly consistent can make things feel dull. I appreciate both aspects and have learned to balance them by knowing when to lean into one or the other a bit more.
Collect Bean: What role does color play in your practice?
Brigette Hoffman: Color has always been a fundamental part of my art. It plays a crucial role in shaping my creative process. Often, my pieces begin with a specific color that inspires me (whatever color it may be that week :D), guiding the direction of the work. Finding my own unique color language has been a deeply personal journey, and it’s where every idea takes root.
Collect Bean: If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Brigette Hoffman: I’d tell her, “Buckle up! It’s going to be a long ride, but you’ll grow into the woman you need to be in this lifetime with grace. You should live creatively and not be afraid to share your magic with the world.”
