Meet Veronica Hahr

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Veronica Hahr. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Veronica , so great to have you with us and we want to jump right into a really important question. In recent years, it’s become so clear that we’re living through a time where so many folks are lacking self-confidence and self-esteem. So, we’d love to hear about your journey and how you developed your self-confidence and self-esteem.

Imagine your mental well-being as having 3 buckets—guilt, pride, and shame. You want these buckets to be balanced. Too much or too little of any one will cause emotional disregulation. You want to be able to fluidly move through these emotions, without getting hung up on the states of any single one.

Of course, this is easier said than done, and so I struggle with emotional regulation as many do. There are many times when my self-esteem has been either too high or too low (usually low). However, over the years, I’ve been able to develop a more stable and healthy sense of self-worth. In short, probably the thing that helps my self-esteem is doing things that are rewarding in the long run—making art, cultivating friendships, reading, writing, and exercising. I think people intuitively know what is good for them. Have faith in the little voice of reason in your head. But most importantly, I think when you can engage with people around you without seeking their validation, and see people for who they are without needing to see yourself reflected in them, you become a more grounded, empathetic, and happier person. The world also becomes a more interesting place. That’s something I’m working on.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I graduated from The Leroy E. Hoffberger School of Painting at Maryland Institute College of Art in the spring of 2025. Since then, I’ve been adjusting to life after graduate school; trying to find a steady job, setting up my new studio space, and applying to artist opportunities. I’m not necessarily in the process of marketing my particular brand or style, but rather researching and experimenting artistically. I’m following leads and workshoping old ideas; from this my particular exploration within art will become more clear.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

For artists: Courage, Receptivity and Humility.

Courage, because you can’t be scared to fail or ruin a work, make something ugly, or feel rejected.

Receptivity, trusting the insight of others to influence your work, is essential for creating the movements that progress visual culture.

Humility, because one has to let go of control to go beyond projecting substantially determined insecurities on whatever is being created.

What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?

Finding a job that isn’t overwhelming enough to deter me from my art practice, yet still can put me on a fruitful career trajectory.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://veronicahahr.com

Image Credits

Veronica Hahr