Ashley Alexander

My work evokes the embodiment of complex emotions through painting and mixed media. Through the human body and personal memories, I paint abstract figures as a reflection of my emotional states to communicate and connect with others. Experimentation with form, material and color allow me to vulnerably communicate buried emotions. 

Using methods to relinquish control, I paint, collage and draw marks to explore color, composition and values. Some works convey emotions through negative space and color alone. Other works utilize the figure and mixed media to exhibit a layered emotional nuance. This work derives from the struggle of expressing and naming emotions pulled from past and current states that are more easily expressed through the act of painting.

Through adding and subtracting figures and space I am taking part in the visual dialogue of representation and abstraction. In a historical context, I am following the painting and drawing methods of abstract expressionists to guide the physical action of how I lay down paint and marks. Color is studied from historical and contemporary artists to inform the emotional definition of my work. The materiality of the loose canvas encourages a space for vulnerability and freedom. Mixed media adds a less predictable element to the process of layering and an added textured surface. 

Personal somatic experience of how the body responds to significant events informs my work. I allow color and various paint application methods to guide me throughout the painting process. I access emotional states by absorbing information through reading, viewing images, and connecting with people. Then I isolate myself in complete silence allowing my instincts and body to drive the beginning stages of the work. Figures and backgrounds are then pulled from memory and drawn out to form a representational image. The artist Tracey Emin’s bravery and confessional art motivated my work to shift into the figure. Cy Twombly’s large scale abstract expressionist paintings inspire scale and vulnerability in my work. Mark Rothko demonstrates the power of color fields to evoke emotions. Cecily Brown’s paintings motivate my work to use layer and hidden figures. 

An intuitive mindset and being vulnerable is important for my practice. Brush marks, drips and expressive lines invite the viewer to interpret the connection between life experiences and emotions that are shaped by them. I channel emotions felt from past experiences or current states then apply layers of paint and mixed media that lead me to draw out figures that reflect myself. This vulnerability allows me to connect with the viewer. My hope is that my work encourages viewers to question and create awareness of emotion.