Interview
Ashley Schriefer
Ashley was born in Long Island, New York. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Art in art education from Flagler College, and has recently graduated from LIU University with her Master’s in fine art. Currently, she teaching art at Roosevelt Middle School.
Ashley’s most recent group show is with Art Curator Magazine titled “River of Dreams”, and she has also recently shown work internationally in Milan, Italy, with M.A.D.S. Art Gallery. Her work has been shown locally in venues across Long Island, including Steinberg Museum at LIU University, SIA Art Gallery, RIPE Art Gallery, Urban Outfitters, Allergeria Hotel and also Unsound Surf shop.
Schriefer’s work can be seen in various publications including Witchita State’s collegiate journal “MOJO”.
Making the most of her beautiful home city of Long Beach, Ashley loves to play soccer, snowboarding, and enjoys surfing during the summer.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“My mom has always been an artist, so I guess you could say it’s genetic. As a child, I was always drawn to creation. I would entertain myself for hours with any materials that were available to me.
As I got older and realized my passion, my goal was to pass this along to others, and I began working towards my career as an art teacher. Watching my kids learn, explore their talents, and release their emotions through art is one of my greatest accomplishments.”
What inspires you most?
“After the loss of my sister to brain cancer, I was drawn to creating visual information to convey the emotions that I felt. I’ve always asked myself this question, ‘What would it look like if we displayed all our emotions and made them visible to everyone?’ This question is the root of my motivation.
With the human condition ever changing and evolving, I find myself with an endless source of new material.”
“My art aims to create a conversation between the outward appearance, in relation to the emotional and internal turmoil that many of us face every day.
The subject I choose to combine with the portraiture is dependent on my emotional state at the beginning stages of conception.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I create work that showcases the interaction between emotional and physical reactions. I use an additive approach to painting, layering images that spark an emotional and physical reaction with human portraiture.
Sometimes I explore the inner workings of the human body, specifically at a cellular level, which can spark an emotional reaction. Other times I choose environmental factors, like the ocean, to showcase how our surroundings can impact our state of mind.”
How would you describe your work?
“I would describe my work as emotionally charged. I use aspects of the human form close to realism all the way to abstraction to convey the current state of my internal compass.”
Which artists influence you most?
“My work is greatly influenced by Egon Schiele, Jenny Saville and Chuck Close.”
What is your creative process like?
“I always look through images of human anatomy, all the way down to the cellular makeup. I often layer images on top of each other until I find a composition that fulfills my idea. This is usually the most time consuming part of the process. After laying the idea out on canvas, painting usually doesn’t take so much time.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Artists have a role as creators and connectors in society. When a painting speaks to you, it creates a new thought process and emotions for the viewer. A certain piece may bring together individuals who would normally not have much in common. Artists are the mind-openers. In our social climate, art is extremely important now, maybe more than ever.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“I’ve enjoyed showing my work in a number of exhibitions.
2021:
- River of Dreams. Contemporary Art Curator Magazine Online Exhibition. You can read about it here.
- Philo-poem. M.A.D.S. Art Gallery in Milan, Italy. Curated by Chiara Rizzatti International Exhibition. You can read about it here.
- Nexus of 12. Curated by SIA Gallery, New York, NY 10011.
- Nexus of 12. Curated by MFA graduating class, Steinberg Museum of Art at Hillwood LIU Post.
2014:
- MFA. Curated by Ripe Art Gallery, Huntington, NY.”
