In Conversation with Holly Addi
An interview with Thuma SoHo’s resident artist on her medium, her method, and the beauty of imperfection.
When and why did you begin to create art? Have you always felt like an artist?
HA: I’ve always been drawn to beauty—not in a polished or traditional sense, but in the way a certain texture, space, or mood could move me. As a child, I’d glance up at paintings in hotel lobbies or details in someone’s home and feel something shift—like I wanted to recreate that feeling, that moment. I remember obsessively arranging my room like a miniature gallery, like my version of a perfect little dollhouse. Looking back, I think I was always creating—always responding. Art became the natural evolution of that instinct, the place where I could express what I felt but couldn’t quite explain.
What drew you to painting and mixed media specifically?
HA: I’m fascinated by how imperfection holds so much beauty, [specifically] the tension between restraint and spontaneity. Mixed media allows me to experiment, to push and pull with color, form, and texture until something emotionally honest emerges. I’m drawn to what’s unfinished, or a little off—there’s a raw beauty in that. Painting gave me a way to explore those nuances in a visual language that feels deeply personal.
In broad strokes, what does your creative process look like?
HA: It’s intuitive. I rarely start with a strict plan. I respond to color, to space, to emotion. Sometimes I begin with a feeling or a phrase, sometimes it’s the quiet of a morning. I’ll layer, erase, add, subtract; it’s as much about what I remove as what I add. The process is a conversation, one that unfolds through restraint and release.
How do you know when a piece is finished?
HA: There’s a moment when the piece stops asking questions and starts answering them. It feels settled, not perfect, but honest. I never want the work to feel overly resolved—there should be just enough tension left to hold the viewer.
Your work is both soothing and confrontational. What do you hope to impart to the viewer?
HA: I hope my work invites stillness—a pause, a moment to feel rather than analyze. I want the viewer to find themselves in the negative space, the texture, the quiet. My work isn’t meant to tell you something directly; it’s meant to be felt. I believe beauty can live in contradiction, and that’s what I explore: the space between strength and softness, tension and calm.
You’re based in Salt Lake City, Utah. How do your surroundings influence your work?
HA: There’s a kind of vast quiet here—open sky, soft desert tones, the changing light. It’s a place that invites introspection. The palette of the landscape has definitely found its way into my work. It gives me the space to experiment, to reflect, and to really listen to the work.
Can you offer the backstory on a piece of yours featured at Thuma SoHo?
HA: Les Marais is rooted in my first trip to Paris, specifically, wandering through the Marais district for the very first time. There was something in the air, the architecture, the color of the light...it awakened something in me. It was the first time I felt fully alive in a way that was both quiet and electric. That feeling stayed with me. The piece is my attempt to capture that fleeting, visceral sense of discovery, a nod to how place can imprint itself on your soul.
Is there a Thuma product that speaks to you/reflects your artistic sensibilities?
HA: The Classic Bed speaks to me—its clean lines, quiet presence, and intentional simplicity mirror a lot of what I strive for in my own work. It feels grounded and elevated at once. That balance is rare and beautiful.
What is your favorite way to spend time at home?
HA: Slow mornings are everything. I love having music playing softly, sunlight coming in through the windows, a journal or sketchbook open. I’ll move things around, light incense, maybe flip through books or start layering a canvas. My home is my sanctuary, a space that holds me while I create.
Happy hour drink of choice?
HA: A classic gin and tonic with lemon—simple, crisp, and timeless.
