Arno Hoth (b. 1950) is a Namibian painter whose work moves across oil-on-canvas, watercolour, and digital media. Born in Windhoek, he studied at Kunstschule Strahn in Germany between 1974 and 1977. It was during his time there that he began using a Wacom tablet as a kind of sketchbook. What started as a side process soon became its own practice, and digital painting emerged as an integral part of his work.

With a formal foundation in oil painting, Hoth brings both technical precision and conceptual depth to his work. He describes his process as a game of “ping pong”, a back-and-forth with the image, an ongoing rhythm of repetition and reinvention. Influenced by surrealist methods of intuitive creation, Hoth draws inspiration from myth, memory, religion, and daily life. A single mark, gesture, or fleeting thought can unfold into an entire visual journey. His practice is symbolic and expressive.

“I’m not concerned about specific material,” he reflects. “The mediums, digital or traditional, have their own distinct characteristics. The digital possibilities give numerous impulses on how to structure a surface, create a form, and combine colours. It is a very fruitful influence.”

Now based near Kamanjab in north-west Namibia, Arno Hoth continues to work from his studio, staying committed to a lifelong process of inquiry and experimentation. He participated in the 2020 and 2021 editions of African Galleries Now, an online fair presented by the African Art Galleries Association in partnership with Artsy.net.

His work is held in collections in Namibia, the UK, Sweden, and the USA.