Meet Ashley Chew | Artist, Activist, Model & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Chew and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, what do you attribute your success to?
The most important factor behind the success of my brand has been authenticity. Authenticity wins every time. One could go back to my work as a child, teen, young adult and the consistency in my personality, passion, ethics, vulnerability within my work has not changed. As an artist and activist this is the core of my work. I want to live a life that inspires people to be comfortable to be themselves. Create even if no one ever sees it! The world is ever changing, especially with technology. Creatives can either be overlooked and swallowed by Social Media or decide to transform with it. I’m not a huge fan of Social Media and very protective of my peace, private life and family online. I like my authenticity to show through my work, But I know it’s essential right now to utilize Social Media, especially during lockdown when nearly everything has been going digital. Prior to lockdown I didn’t even talk on Social Media. I still think it’s important for artists to maintain their mystery in some way. Authenticity isn’t formulated or scheduled. It’s a being. I feel there’s a lot of dishonesty in the media and it can be sometimes overwhelming to navigate. When you do honest work, you get honest results. Authenticity will always help you receive goodness no matter your career field. Even if people don’t understand your work, they will root for authenticity.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
The core of my work is Women of Color, specifically Black Women. Across the world only 4% of galleries, museums and fairs contain work by Black Women. It would be a disservice for me to creative with such a huge platform and not include us in the narrative. This alone is very niche. I refuse to paint Black trauma. Our trauma is always plastered across the news. We feel things besides pain. Why can’t we be depicted as strong, resilient, rested, royalty, beauty! Going back to authenticity, this has gotten me to where I am professionally by being just that. No road is ever truly easy. Sticking to what I believe in creatively manifests into opportunities in due time. Patience wins wars. The easy way out would be to make things I know people will buy and want to see. I don’t feel comfortable doing so. I paint Black Women in a surrealist and dream-like approach. People may not understand this, but the ones that do get it. I’ve been fortunate enough to work for brands such as Tommy Hilfiger, Coach Nike, Kipling, Billionaire Girls Club, Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It” and more. There’s a lot of rejection in a big city, there’s a lot of things I pass on if it doesn’t feel authentic. The challenges is what shape us. I don’t want things handed, I don’t want to say “yes” to everything for times sake. Navigating weather it’s really a challenge or a lesson is the lesson in itself. Keep doing the work, someone saw it.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If someone was visiting my area, Bedstuy, Brooklyn I would start in my go-to spots. I try to support Black Businesses in the area as much as possible. This has been essential now that we are on stay-at-home. Cafe on Ralph for brunch, Natty Garden for plant shopping, and swinging by Brooklyn Tea to take loose leaf tea home. In Manhattan, I love visiting the galleries in Soho. My work was on view at The Untitled Space. Three Jewels or Inscape for meditation class. I miss dinner and dancing at Catch in Meatpacking.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people to credit on my journey. A loving family and friends by default. I am very fortunate to have had supportive parents and grandparents every step of the way. Even if my decisions worry them a bit, like moving across the country alone. There is still this misconception that Art is a “hobby” or “not a real job” I’ve worked for incredible people and proven otherwise, but I know many creatives who suffer from their home life. My New York City family and colleagues have also shaped me to be resilient. My friends Ebony, Kat and Brett talk about my work more than I do! Sometimes they even believe in me more than I do! This is so important. We can’t feel 100% all the time, it’s human nature. I am an avid meditator and have attended many mediation classes and studios the past 3 years. I thank every single instructor for their patience, openness and road to healing. My Art and Modeling agents John and Jackie for dealing with my crazy schedules. I thank every client or person that has shared my work and helped another BIPOC artist have visibility. People view me as self-made. Are we ever really ever self-made? So many people have contributed to my life and I make sure to always thank them.

Website: https://ashleybchew.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ash_chew/?hl=en

Image Credits
Images on Film credits – Tsebiyah Derry Art Images – my own