www.myspace.com/asashley
email: a.s.ashley@hotmail.com

BORN:
Pasadena, CA

RESIDENCE:
Pomona, CA

GENERAL EDUCATION:
Library Elementary; Newsstand High

COLLEGE:
B.A., Ernie Kovacs University of Visual Arts
M.A., Rod Serling School of Metaphysics

APPRENTICESHIP:
Mikie, Leo (and all the other dead guys).

“Art is a series of ideas in search of the proper vehicle to transport the concept. Therefore, I feel it needs to be as variable and malleable as the subject, and the artist, as they move throughout their journey from mind to fruition.”

PAINTINGS
Using political, cultural and social imagery, Ashley’s paintings present an iconoclastic approach to our emblematic society. Satirically worshipped, the scope of subjects run wide: Greek art to Catholicism; Neo-Classical renderings of film, Pop, and political icons, sometimes juxtaposed in ironic compositions. Ashley often applies a broad range of painting styles and techniques to give a unique naturalism to otherwise conflicting subjects.

ASSEMBLAGES
Integrating found objects with sculpture and painting, Ashley's assemblages suggest a religious spirituality that evokes tribal rites and rituals. Combining symbolic elements of life and death, his assemblages are altars to an ever changing culture.

ART PERFORMANCES
Rather than serving a captive and sympathetic audience, Ashley prefers the spontaneity and chance that goes with “street” or “guerrilla” art performances. His method of translating form to function gained him national notoriety in 1979, when he was expelled from the Laguna Beach Festival of Arts for the controversial nature of his paintings. Subsequently, his reactive art performance drew the attention of the news media, the support of the ACLU, and a State Supreme Court ruling in Ashley's favor, protecting his first amendment rights.

ART RAVES
Since his arrival in the Pomona Arts Colony last February, Ashley has been involved in every Second Saturday Art Walk, notably, the "Art Raves" he's produced in the Downtown area.

The “Art Rave” concept isn’t exactly new: Artists have always struggled to find their way into established Galleries; only to be rejected, put on long waiting lists, or having to absorb outrageous commissions from the gallery they exhibit in. Therefore, Artists will sometimes attempt to remove “the middle man” by staging exhibits on their own, using any space available. These spaces often include empty store-fronts, restaurants, theatre lobbies, retail businesses, you name it.

Ashley’s group show “Art Raves” started in L.A.’s Downtown Art’s Colony in the late 80’s utilized the empty walls of local restaurants and businesses. Scores of shows later, he finds there is still a great need for local art venues. In just the last two years Ashley has produced over a dozen such shows and finds the benefit to the community is equal to its benefit to the Artists. The shows Ashley has produced in downtown Pomona carry the same purpose: Create venues for local artists; fill empty storefronts (or walls of local businesses) with local artwork to stimulate activity and commerce in the area.

Click any image to enlarge.

"Venus de HeyZeus"
-Acrylic on Canvas,
molded fish arms-84" X 108"

"Dorothy"
-Acrylic on Canvas-72" X 72"

"rainbird of paradise"
-hardware assemblage-
7" X 12" X 12"D

"The Great One"
-Acrylic on Canvas-
72" X 60"

"Rice Krispy trick-or-treat"
-molded Rice Krispy Treat, resin,
marshmallows, and dried flower assemblage-
7" X 16" X 6" D