Art in the Everyday

Joshua Hoffman turns the unremarkable into an extraordinary viewpoint of the world.

Artist Joshua Hoffman got a welcome surprise a few weeks ago when a celebrity purchased his work and then posted about it on social media. Green Tree native Zachary Quinto, who appeared in several “Star Trek” films as the iconic character Spock, spread the word about Hoffman’s talent by posting his approval of “Morning Light, Fall 2023.”

“I was shocked!” says Hoffman. “That’s the most wonderful thing that could happen.”

Pittsburgh features prominently in Hoffman’s work, but he has also painted other cities and towns in the tri-state area. While a senior in college, he took a year off and traveled, basically living in his car and doing plein air painting, and selling his work. “I was a little crazy in my 20s,” explains Hoffman. He learned a lot in this period about the process of plein air, which is just painting outside, rather than working in the studio from memory or a photo. His work reflects the Ashcan School art movement, which could be described as an American version of impressionism.

One thing that sets his work apart is that while most artists tend toward nature landscapes, Hoffman finds cities more interesting. He paints the cityscapes, warts and all, with an appreciation for everyday objects—even air conditioning units!

Hoffman’s story as an artist is a familiar one. A native of Bethel Park, he attended Edinboro University, graduating with a degree in art but not really knowing how to make a living at it. He meandered away from the path of art and turned to other means of supporting himself. He also married and became a father, which required more dependable income.

One of his jobs was going door to door to solicit funds for a nonprofit. “I got to see a lot of Pittsburgh neighborhoods I had never seen before,” Hoffman recalls. The new discoveries close to home stirred some inspiration for painting. He took a couple of more jobs, which he hated, and eventually opened his own construction company. But a health problem helped him to realize that life is too short to avoid pursuing your dreams.

“I called every artist I knew, looking for advice,” shares Hoffman. “My father-in-law is a potter, and he also gave me good advice on how to display my art.” He’s also been mentored by Pittsburgh artist Ron Donoughe. Through their collective advice, selling paintings and teaching classes at Pittsburgh Center for Arts & Media, he has been able to work in art full time, and the future looks bright.

Hoffman has been in major shows around the area, including the Three Rivers Arts Festival and Art on Walnut, and has begun to display in cities around the country. He displayed his work by invitation at the Vining Galleries in Indianapolis and will again show his work there this year. His work was also recently on display at the prestigious Concept Art Gallery.

If you love great artwork, but your budget does not allow for fine art, Hoffman has prints of some of his most popular works, including many of Pittsburgh and the Dormont area. He also offers what he calls “Mistake Pieces” for a greatly reduced price. To see more of his work, visit joshuahoffmanart.com.