Rising Stars: Meet Leala Ho of Duluth

Today we’d like to introduce you to Leala Ho.

Hi Leala, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
For as long as I can remember, art was the one thing that could completely bend time for me. I knew I wanted to pursue a creative life the moment I realized I could spend countless hours creating, entirely lost in the process without even realizing how much time had passed. That raw, effortless joy led me to study drawing and painting at Georgia State University, where I fell in love with the tactile, deliberate nature of fine art.

Eventually, I wanted to bridge that hands-on foundation with the communicative power of contemporary graphic design. Today, as a Chinese-American multidisciplinary creative based in Atlanta, my work sits right at that intersection—blending traditional art with modern design to create bold, intentional visual stories. A massive driving force behind my work is my heritage. I use my projects to dive deeper into my own roots, translating those rich histories and personal reflections into modern, visual narratives.

But as my creative journey evolves, I’m realizing that visual art is only one part of how I want to express myself. Lately, I’ve been stepping onto a different kind of canvas: the stage. As a performing artist, I am deeply passionate about singing and dancing. While design allows me to build stories on a screen or canvas, music and movement let me bring those stories to life in real-time, connecting with people through voice, rhythm, and presence.

Ultimately, whether I am designing a visual brand, painting, singing, or dancing, my goal remains the same: to create bold, intentional work that resonates on a deeper level, sparks curiosity, and shares a piece of my journey with everyone who crosses my path.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. From high school through college, I battled hyperthyroidism, which drained my physical energy just as I was trying to keep up with the intense demands of an art major. Then, COVID hit, forcing me to finish my studio classes isolated behind a screen.

Beyond those physical hurdles, I’ve had to navigate the cultural pressure of finding a ‘stable’ job. As a Chinese-American, pursuing a creative path often means actively pushing back against traditional expectations and stereotypes of what success looks like.

Holding onto my creative drive through a chronic illness, a pandemic, and the pressure to choose a safer path was incredibly tough. But overcoming those obstacles only proved to me how non-negotiable my passions ar,e, whether I’m designing on a canvas or performing on a stage.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I describe myself as a visual designer and creative who operates across graphic design, photography, digital media, and traditional mediums like drawing and painting.

Taking a multidisciplinary approach is central to who I am. I’ve never wanted to be boxed into just one discipline; instead, I use my diverse toolkit to translate complex ideas into compelling visual narratives. Because I understand both the tactile world of painting and drawing and the fast-paced world of digital media, I can build bridges that other creatives might miss.

This is exactly why I am growing into a Creative Director role. I want to guide big-picture visual strategies from a place of deep, hands-on experience across multiple mediums, ensuring the final output is both highly creative and deeply authentic.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something that surprises a lot of people is that my creative drive is completely fueled by high-energy, real-world experiences. I am a massive fan of live music. I love traveling to different cities just to go to concerts and music festivals—and I’m a serial ‘side-quester.’

Over the years, I’ve ended up marching in the Rose Bowl Parade, being a part of the Super Bowl, performing on stage for Kanye West’s Donda listening party, and walking my first fashion show. I’ve even worked on major film and TV sets where you can actually spot me in the movie Do Revenge and the show Legacies.

I think people are always surprised by how much I’ve packed into my life outside of my design bubble, but being surrounded by the art, the fashion, and the visual production of concerts, sets, and festivals is exactly what keeps my work feeling fresh, authentic, and connected to culture.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://readymag.website/u1141668785/5245257/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ho_leala/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leala-ho/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lealaho
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ho_leala