Rising Stars: Meet Ashley Chew

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Chew.

Hi Ashley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Ashley Chew and I am an Artist and Illustrator. My work has taken me from New York City to Los Angeles to South Africa and Nigeria. I have been a lifelong creative, but along the way I started modeling for several years. As a Full-time Artist you can definitely see how Fashion and Beauty have impacted my work. As a model, I never really had control over my image. My agency would tell me what hair color, what hair length, what nail color, what to wear to castings. My body-image has been positive to me so far, but I understand the strength and privilege this is in an industry that criticizes bodies and weight for many. I had one rule: If I had to get smaller, I simply wouldn’t model. Translating this control to the freedom of my paintings has been the most gratifying experience. My work has neon hair color, towering up-dos, braids, bellies, hips, and the women in the images are wearing fashion pieces. I paint the diversity I wanted to see within The Arts and Fashion. There is a huge emphasis on hair. Hair is tied into a lot of identity for Women-Identifying, especially in many different cultures. This is the longest my hair has been since I have not been modeling. I can let it run free, I’m getting braids soo too. I can’t wait to twirl around the studio, next to my paintings that have braids. Representation is so important. This will not be the first or last time that my work focuses on hair and representation in beauty.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect? 
The challenges I have faced as a Black-Woman Artist are ongoing. We make up only 4% of museums, galleries, and art fairs worldwide. This number trickles down to opportunities in exhibitions, collections, funding, residencies, and press coverage. I refuse to say I have gotten lucky, I have had to set many boundaries and prove myself my entire life. I am still in that process. The challenges do not seem to end for BIPOC Women Artists, or BIPOC people in fact- it’s by design. What I do have control over is how I can contribute to a better community in The Arts. When creating as a marginalized person(s), you are not only communicating your story, you are communicating stories of your Culture. You are automatically designated as a spokesperson for your Culture whether you consent to this or not. You feel like you cannot fail, misstep, because that may affect the person(s) who come after you, whether they are trusted or not. I work hard, every day I work hard, so that I do not have to worry about if it was my effort.

One could smooth sail on a rough path, it’s all about acceptance, it is all about mindset.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy comes in many forms. As a very observant person, the smallest gestures are warming (& hilarious) to me. Every day I open my studio doors, I am like “wow I did all of this?!”. Every day in the studio is with gratitude. My nephew’s raspy voice calling me “TT” for Auntie. Beyonce’s Renaissance album is a no-brainer for joy. Watching two strangers embrace each other on the sidewalk. Seeing that a new leaf grew on my plant(s). Cooking for other people. Watching someone win an award is a tear-jerker. Other people’s laughs will have me roaring. The excitement I have for my friends when they achieve something they worked towards. Artists looking at my work and sharing their thoughts. Making the train in a split-second. Crying laughing trying to tell a story (I’m known for being terrible at this) I don’t think happiness can fully be described, it’s all interconnected moments. I mindfully practice gratitude. I mindfully practice joy. Life is so hard, but we can try.

Contact Information

• Website: www.ashleybchew.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/ash_chew

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