Interview with Ashley Cole
Where are you from and where is your art practice based currently?
I was born in Compton California, raised in Watts, currently practicing in Los Angeles California.
Do you have a formal art education or are you self taught?
I am a self taught artist.
Can you tell us about your process and what inspires you?
I typically begin every painting with black using gestural movement. I then build with earth tones, these colors are significant to my identity and culture. What ever the matter or final color, every piece begins with black.
I am inspired by freedom, the human experience as a whole. My work is a sense of self discovery. I am inspired by sound, particularly jazz music, and most importantly I’m inspired by the abstract artists who came before me.
Have any women artists influenced your work? Any that you admire currently?
In 2020 I began searching for representation (artists who look like me), upon my search I found artists who I still admire to day such as Mary Lovelace O’Neal, Alma Thomas, Mildred Thompson, and Howerdena Pindell. Currently I am drawn to the works of Julie Mehretu and Jennie C. Jones.
Where can we see your work?
Website:
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/Ashley.Cole__
I’m currently exhibiting at Brea Gallery in Brea California
I have an upcoming exhibition at Hilo University in Hawaii
I am curating a group exhibition in 2024 that will highlight black artists who create in abstraction.
What challenges have you faced, particularly by being a black woman artist working within abstract art and what changes would you like to see?
While I’ve had some amazing opportunities as a black abstract artist, I have also faced the seemingly typical issues as any emerging artist.
We deal with rejection, being discouraged when an opportunity doesn’t work out like we planned, however I would like to see more black women abstract artists in group exhibitions, galleries, having solo shows etc.
I believe over the years there have been waves of inclusion, but I would like to see it being normalised.
What advice would you give to black women artists that are just now entering the art world?
My advice would be to trust your intuition when creating. We all have an artistic voice and I believe the way to finding it is through exploration.
Rejection is apart of your growth as an artist, there will be No’s but the Yes’s will be that much more meaningful.
Never stop studying, I like to think of myself as a forever student and do not be afraid to ask questions.
