Art Convo with Ashley Chew: Sitting in Gratitude and Gorgeously Representing Black Womxn

Ashley Chew in her NYC studio. Photo by Briannia Walters.

An intimate conversation with NYC-based artist, model, and activist Ashley Chew (she/her), on sitting in gratitude, depicting Black womxn in the most soft and elegant of ways in her acrylic paintings, and why her friends and family have nicknamed her Beyoncé.

What are simple things that made you smile this month?

Someone I didn't know tapped me at a loud event and whispered, “I love your work.” This goes such a long way. Give people their flowers in real life. Tapping the heart button on social media is so monotonous now. There’s so much information fed to us. Tell someone verbally why you love them. I’ve also started watching Girlfriends for the third time. Hilarious and ahead of its time.

What are self-care rituals that keep you whole and keep you going?

The self-care rituals that keep me whole are definitely skincare, meditation, and working out. Sounds cliché, but I notice the dramatic dip in my energy when I don’t work out for a period of time. I really try to integrate it, whether going to, or leaving the studio. When you spend a lot of time standing or sitting in one place, horrible posture, and those hand cramps catch up! I never want to punish my body for the sake of productivity. Currently learning what an “off-day” is… Will report back.

“Our hair is not distracting, our skin is not distracting. I took the idea of distraction and took it literally. I paint the hair last to make sure it’s the most vibrant and focal point.”

Textbook Figure 21. 2022. Acrylic on canvas, 48” x 48”. Courtesy of the artist.

I love that Black womxn in your paintings are presented as magical and supreme beings. The backdrops are lush and your color palette is excitingly vibrant. There are Classical and Renaissance art references, but the contemporary Black womxn in your canvases clearly go beyond that. Can you talk about these elements?

Black trauma has been capitalized off of for centuries. Social media, mass media, public figures, political figures, brands, you name it, are more than likely to promote us suffering than feeling resilience and peace. Although I think art depicting trauma is needed, our trauma is very real, to this day. But who’s going to depict us as magical, beautiful, and refreshed beings? Creatives in any media have an incredible responsibility, from music to film to photography. My work promotes the rest, regality, resilience, and vibrancy of BIPOC womxn. As a person with a lighter complexion and 4c hair, I remember hearing kids tell other kids, “she’s too dark to wear orange”, or “that hair color is too bright on her.” Even now, children are being sent home from school over braided hairstyles. Our hair is not distracting, our skin is not distracting. I took the idea of distraction and took it literally. I paint the hair last to make sure it’s the most vibrant and focal point.

“Growing up I didn’t see images of Black women in their studios, or in art. In fact, now I’m one of those images for someone struggling with representation in art.”

Textbook Figure 4. 2021. Acrylic on canvas, 24” x 36”. Courtesy of the artist.

Can you describe an ideal day in your studio? What needs to align for you — spiritually, mentally, and physically — for a productive day?

A productive day in the studio consists of pure gratitude. Almost every day I glance over at my name plate outside of the studio doors. Such a blessing. I think of a quote by fellow artist Mira Mariah, “Every morning when I walk into my studio, I pretend to bring a different era of my younger self for the first time ever, and tell her about my life in the most romantic way imaginable.” Growing up I didn’t see images of Black women in their studios, or in art. In fact, now I’m one of those images for someone struggling with representation in art. Gratitude is spiritual, mental, and physical. Gratitude protects me. Gratitude comforts me.

What's next for the rest of 2022 and into 2023? Anything you can share?

My friends, parents, and Instagram audience call me Beyoncé jokingly. I’m very observant and introverted. I enjoy the process without judgment or outside noise. I enjoy the mystique of artists like Sade or Prince. It’s rare to get any future plans out of me.