Biography

 "Millions of people can be wrong." 

Born in South Africa, contemporary artist Ruan Hoffmann initially studied at the University of Pretoria. He currently lives and works in The Netherlands. Using ceramic earthenware as his preferred medium, Hoffmann molds familiar objects such as plates, containers and tiles into willful, irregular and misshapen forms. Ruan Hoffmann’s masterful ceramics defy norms, inviting viewers into a world of unfiltered emotion and striking visual engagement.

 

The resulting works are not presented as homey pieces emanating from the domestic sphere but as willful, irregular and misshapen forms on which the artist’s unedited observations on life’s experiences flow in constant, noisy glimpses of thought. Hoffmann adorns the surfaces of his plates with a vast array of images and text that can be unapologetic, politically confrontational, improper and even sometimes rude. It is work that is unashamedly loud, uncompromising and exhilarating. The adorned ceramic work expresses the artist Ruan Hoffmann's unedited observations on life's experiences.

 

Widely exhibited, Hoffmann's works are also in a number of international collections including the South African National Gallery, Thalie Foundation & The Frans Masereel Centrum, Belgium, the Museo de Arte Moderno, Dominican Republic and is collected amongst important public and private collections.

Works
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Nature, Art, You, Me
    Nature, Art, You, Me
  • Ruan Hoffmann, I Miss You
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Foot, 2014
    Foot, 2014
  • Ruan Hoffmann, You Cant Stop It, 2016
    You Cant Stop It, 2016
  • Ruan Hoffmann, I NEED TO, 2017
    I NEED TO, 2017
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Save Yourself, 2019
    Save Yourself, 2019
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Leclaireur, 2019
    Leclaireur, 2019
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Your opinion no thanks, 2019
  • Ruan Hoffmann, LOVE UNLOVE, 2019
    LOVE UNLOVE, 2019
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Gone, 2020
    Gone, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, MMXX World Wide Hysteria, 2020
    MMXX World Wide Hysteria, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Untitled 9, 2020
    Untitled 9, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Société Anonyme, 2020
    Société Anonyme, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Fake it or Fuck off, 2020
    Fake it or Fuck off, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Anightmerica, 2020
    Anightmerica, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Fortuna, 2020
    Fortuna, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, The Planet of the Idiots, 2020
    The Planet of the Idiots, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Yak Yak Bla Bla, 2020
    Yak Yak Bla Bla, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Je ne suis pas un saint, 2020
    Je ne suis pas un saint, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Principled opportunist summa cum, 2020
    Principled opportunist summa cum, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Skull, 2020
    Skull, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, SCHADENFREUNE, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Spring Riots, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Tanked up on Love, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Untitled 154, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, The Beginning and the End, 2020
    The Beginning and the End, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Untitled 107, 2020
    Untitled 107, 2020
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Ideal knowledge boom, 2021
    Ideal knowledge boom, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Untitled 119, 2021
    Untitled 119, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Untitled 121, 2021
    Untitled 121, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, FREEDOM THE FAREWELLTOUR, 2021
    FREEDOM THE FAREWELLTOUR, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, What do you love me for, 2021
    What do you love me for, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, The triumph of time, 2021
    The triumph of time, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Bye Bye, 2021
    Bye Bye, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, We, the fucking people, 2021
    We, the fucking people, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, We don't give a fuck about your little drama, 2021
    We don't give a fuck about your little drama, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, You bore me, 2021
    You bore me, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Clinging and Clawing, 2021
    Clinging and Clawing, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Cut it Out, 2021
    Cut it Out, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Everyday on this planet is another horror, 2021
    Everyday on this planet is another horror, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Everything is bad for you, 2021
    Everything is bad for you, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Hey times up motherfucker, 2021
    Hey times up motherfucker, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Deal with it, 2021
    Deal with it, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, REMEMBER REMEMBERING, 2021
    REMEMBER REMEMBERING, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, ZipUp, 2021
    ZipUp, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, You and I, 2021
    You and I, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Yes or No Yes?, 2021
    Yes or No Yes?, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Love me!, 2021
    Love me!, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, NATURE DOES NOT CARE ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Untitled 112, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Chill the fuck out, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Did you think this was the way the world would end ?, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, For you, I'm desperate, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, What would become of me, 2021
    What would become of me, 2021
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Come on if you must you must, 2022
    Come on if you must you must, 2022
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Lovescars, 2022
    Lovescars, 2022
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Reveal yourself to me, 2022
    Reveal yourself to me, 2022
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Will you come and find me, 2022
    Will you come and find me, 2022
  • Ruan Hoffmann, MMXXIV, 2022
    MMXXIV, 2022
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Open, 2022
    Open, 2022
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Untitled 213 , 2022
    Untitled 213 , 2022
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Je ne sais plus, 2022
  • Ruan Hoffmann, It's All Wrong It's All Right, 2022
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Not This Again Not That Again, 2022
    Not This Again Not That Again, 2022
  • Ruan Hoffmann, UNTITLED 145, 2023
    UNTITLED 145, 2023
  • Ruan Hoffmann, In me, 2023
    In me, 2023
  • Ruan Hoffmann, UNTITLED 144, 2023
    UNTITLED 144, 2023
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Forgettable thats what you are, 2023
    Forgettable thats what you are, 2023
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Spaceship, 2023
    Spaceship, 2023
  • Ruan Hoffmann, UNTITLED 143, 2023
    UNTITLED 143, 2023
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Je suis ta pute, 2023
    Je suis ta pute, 2023
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Wop bop a looo bop bf, 2023
    Wop bop a looo bop bf, 2023
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Which way to your heart, 2023
    Which way to your heart, 2023
  • Ruan Hoffmann, UNTITLED 142, 2023
    UNTITLED 142, 2023
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Fire, 2023
    Fire, 2023
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Snail climb mount fudji but slowly, 2023
    Snail climb mount fudji but slowly, 2023
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Tit for tat ville, 2023
    Tit for tat ville, 2023
  • Ruan Hoffmann, All of you, 2023
    All of you, 2023
  • Ruan Hoffmann, Desire, 2023
Exhibitions
Video