Ashley Mates
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(510) 495-7779
Painting with acrylics helps me move quickly through emotions with color and the faceless female figure. My work portrays parts of my journey in self-love and discovery. I want to capture the sensual but complex emotions. I like exploring feelings of vulnerability, sex, solitude, loneliness, strength, struggle, and love. I also use the mystical as inspiration. Occasionally, I try use my political feelings. My art has big bold and metallic colors, especially colors associated with emotions. I think a lot about how space influences us and becomes a part of us. Which is why the background colors are used in her shape to emerge her into the scene. Lastly I find it important to reclaim the female figure from the male gaze.
When I am not painting, I am a union organizer, beach enthusiast and lover of my two cats. I currently reside in Oakland CA after years of drifting around the country. Its become my favorite place. I started painting as a form of therapy. The more I painted the more I found work-life balance. I’ve incorporated daily art projects into my life, even if its just a doodle.
