"Soltar", Acrylic Painting on prefabricated fiberglass 4x4x4...

Ashley Perez

Teaching Artist/Instructor ; Visual Arts : Painter

Ashley Perez is a Texas-based artist who works in a variety of mediums that center around painting and drawing. Her work explores memory, identity, and mental health by personifying elements of the natural world and wordplay. Perez is an alumnus of the national-award-winning creative youth development program SAY Sí. She received her B.F.A. from the University of Texas at San Antonio in painting in 2010. Currently, she runs SAY Sí’s visual arts middle school and high school programs, mentoring the next generation of creative leaders. Her work has been featured at Centro de Artes, Blue Star Contemporary, the McNay Art Museum, and Presa House Gallery. I explore memory, identity, and mental health by personifying elements of the natural world and wordplay. I enjoy finding different connections between animals like birds, fish, elephants, these animals’ homes, and my own experiences. This, combined with their incredible textures, guide each composition. My paintings, drawings, and mixed media work often start with wordplay or an animal trait that I idealize and magnify to suit my needs. For example, a waterfowl can be a subject to navigate a foul memory or a hummingbird as a request to slow down. As my work evolves, community involvement has deepened my creative practice.

Artist Statement of Work

Tell us about your work (style, approach, philosophy, subject and/or theme):

Through my artwork, I delve into the complexities of memory, identity, and mental health, personifying elements of the natural world and exploring the intricacies of wordplay. My artistic process is fueled by a passion for discovering the connections between different animals, their habitats, and my own experiences. The textures of the natural world guide each composition, and I often begin with a single animal trait or wordplay that I can idealize and magnify to suit my creative needs.

Each painting, drawing, or mixed media piece is an opportunity to reflect on my journey and explore how the natural world can help us better understand ourselves. Whether using a waterfowl to navigate a difficult memory or a hummingbird to encourage slowing down, my work is always infused with introspection and reflection.

As my creative practice has evolved, community input has become an increasingly important part of my work. By seeking out feedback and engaging with others, I have been able to deepen my understanding of the role that trust plays in our lives and how we can use art to explore this important theme. Ultimately, I hope my art can inspire others to reflect on their own experiences and find new ways of connecting with the natural world.