Ashley Alexandra is an emerging abstract mixed media artist in Alberta, Canada. Alexandra is from a family of a wide variety of professional artistic talents. Caught up in decades of education and the professional career grind, the pandemic and the inception of motherhood brought Ashley back to her artistic roots of doing something for the sheer love of it unobstructed by requirements. She has a passion for her family, animals and the outdoors – all of which, influence and inspire the evolution of her artwork.
Self-taught or art school?
Self-taught.
If you could own one work of art what would it be?
Cage 6 by Gerhard Richter.
How would you describe your style?
Abstract. I love using abstraction to lean into creativity with the freedom to trust my intuition in creating something real from something that was purely ethereal.
Is narrative important within your work?
My artwork doesn’t necessarily have a narrative or tell a story, but it does find its basis in abstracted versions of my memory in which a narrative has laid the foundation.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
Laura Harris, is an artist out of British Columbia, Canada whose artwork is collected globally and exhibited in galleries all across Canada. Her paintings are stunningly beautiful and have irresistible energy to them, to look at one of her paintings a dozen times is not nearly enough.
What or who inspires your art?
There is nothing more beautiful than untouched nature. I’ve had the benefit of growing up in Ontario, Canada where many humid, sunny days in the summer were spent outdoors lakeside with big beautiful trees surrounding the shoreline. I now live in Alberta, Canada near the Rocky Mountains, albeit a very different landscape, equally as beautiful. These memories of my natural surroundings, both old and new, are the inspiration for my art.
Are there any recurring themes within your work and can you tell us about them?
The colour blue always seems to make an appearance on the canvas without much intentional thought. I think that must come from my love of all things water – particularly the ocean with the juxtaposition of its beauty and crushing power.
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
As a new mother, I have embraced a studio in my home. Although it may lack the natural light of the outdoors, I have filled its bare walls with artwork to fuel my soul.
Do you have any studio rituals?
When I am painting, my studio takes on a life of its own – I like to think that the clutter that I create represents the unfinished business I have on the canvas. It goes without saying, that when I finish a painting, my ritual is to restore my studio back to its clean, uncluttered state – ready to take on a fresh, new challenge.
What are you working on currently?
Two large commission pieces.
Where can we buy your art?
From my website www.ashleyalexandraart.com, The Artling and Saachi Art.
What are your ambitions?
To continue to further my artistic skills and build my career as an artist, creating works of art that have meaning and evoke emotions.
For more information visit: www.ashleyalexandraart.com and www.instagram.com/ashley.alexandra.art
Buy Edition 7 of the printed magazine HERE
Get your FREE Tickets to FLUX Exhibition – London 16th – 25th June HERE
