We recently connected with Ashley Morgan and have shared our conversation below.

Ashley, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?

There have been plenty of instances in which my work has been misunderstood. At worst, my work has been ripped to shreds verbally by people who don’t understand my message or my work at ALL. I’ve had people call my work disgusting, vile, and even referring to it as “pointless pornography.”
The truth is, my work isn’t any of those things. Men have been able to paint women in any light they want too for centuries upon centuries. In the Baroque period as well as the Renaissance, men have had private rooms full of paintings only including nude women painted from the male gaze. I have come to understand that the viewpoint in the art world towards women is incredibly sexist and my work tends to challenge that view. I’ve seen men create similar work to mine and they are praised for it constantly while my work is deemed “disgusting” because I am a woman making work from a feminine perspective.
I have decided I must tear into the patriarchal view we have of women’s bodies, sexuality, emotions, and childhood experience. I never aim to make women palatable for the male experience, I aim to make women feel seen as the real and beautiful beings they are.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Ashley Morgan.
I am a Denver local artist who specializes in painting, printmaking, and photography. The subject of my work encapsulates the femanine experience in love, trauma, mental health, the physical form, sexuality, and childhood. This is all stemmed from personal experiences and how they have shaped me as a person. The goal of my work is simply to create connection with other women who feel unseen or unheard.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

On a personal level, I’d say the creation itself. Despite my critical nature and lack of self confidence I developed in college when it comes to the technical aspect of my work, I can at least know when something I paint is brilliant. I love working on something for extensive periods of time and stepping back when i’m finally finished to say “This looks amazing.” It’s a very rewarding feeling.
However, the personal gratification is nothing compared to the feeling of people complimenting my work, recognizing me and my art, or thanking me for creating the work I make. It’s remarkable knowing I have affected so many people so positively.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Go view local art, support local artists, buy their work, buy prints, or even get involved in your local arts district. Don’t spend your money on a printed painting anyone can get at a local shopping center. People NEED art in their lives, especially art made by other humans and even more especially if it’s weird or joyful or even sad. It’s, at base level, connection with others.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @amidst_livingartists

Image Credits

All images taken, edited, and submitted by Ashley Morgan