Art on a Postcard x War Child UK 2024 Part I

About

Ashley January creates contemporary paintings informed by her maternal experience. Exploring themes of preeclampsia, premature birth, and birth trauma, her newest body of work continues to address the Black maternal mortality and morbidity crisis in America. She is interested in learning the familial narratives after they have experienced and survived adversity. Helping to bring more awareness, her imagery highlights their collective journeys of resilience and joy.

Education

Ashley earned her MFA in Painting from the Laguna College of Art and Design, Laguna Beach, CA in 2017 and her BS in Communication with an Advertising concentration and Minor in Studio Art from Bradley University, Peoria, IL in 2009

Select Exhibitions/Awards

Ashley became the first recipient of the Women’s Caucus for Art, 2022 Emerging Artist Award. In January 2023, Ashley had the second  installmentt of her solo exhibition, Human | Mother | Black, at Western Illinois University. Most recently, her works were featured in the New York group show, Fruits of Labor: Reframing Motherhood and Art making at Apex Art. She was invited to participate in the Unit London (Voices) online group exhibition Naissance/Re-Naissance. She was also included in the London Art Fair Platform curation through Cynthia Corbett Gallery. Additionally, Tufts University School of Medicine's Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice, acquired paintings from her series. Her works have been exhibited in numerous venues including, SoLA Contemporary, Los Angeles,CA; the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL; and Laguna Art Museum, Laguna Beach, CA.Recently, she was featured in the January 2023 issue of Luxe Interiors + Design Chicago magazine.

Gallery Representation

Cynthia Corbett Gallery--London, United Kingdom

Statement about AOAP Submitted Artwork

I address the Black maternal mortality and morbidity crisis in America through painting and multimedia. Influenced by my own traumatic pregnancy and survival, the imagery centers on the experiences of Black mothers, birthing people, and children who have suffered adverse birth outcomes but challenge the institutional modes in finding solutions. Confronting themes through quiet, often heavy motifs, the artistic environments articulate the imposed health effects disproportionately experienced. All familial perspectives are considered after a tangential birth trauma survival. Continuing the delicately layered conversation surrounding Black maternal health, the images serve as a global call to action for more awareness, research, and the eradication of unnecessary maternal and infant deaths.

You must not reproduce, duplicate, copy, sell, resell or exploit any works. In doing so, you endanger our relationships with artists, and directly jeopardise the charitable work we do.