Ashley Joi
About the Artist
Ashley Joi is a multidisciplinary Artist residing in Northern Virginia. She enjoys using a vast variety of materials alongside acrylic paint in the creation of her imagery. Joi discovered a love for creating as a child, having been introduced to art at a very early age by an art teacher in her family. She developed an enthusiasm for painting during a Governor’s School residency at the University of Richmond, and while earning an international baccalaureate certificate in painting.
Ashley Joi's work includes design elements that she learned while pursuing her BFA in fine art with an emphasis in graphic design at Hampton University, and during a graphic design internship at Voice of America in Washington, D.C.. Joi's work is often heavily influenced by African mythology, fantasy, and social issues impacting communities of color. Her work has been exhibited in, and presented by, galleries in Virginia, Maryland, New York, and at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C..
Artist Statement
Ashley Joi is a multidisciplinary Artist whose work is often heavily influenced by nature, African mythology, fantasy, and social and political issues. Her creations span from uplifting and imaginative creations with bright, bold colors, to work meant to evoke emotion and create a dialogue about societal and racial issues. Her work has been exhibited in, and presented by, galleries in Virginia, Maryland, New York, and at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C..
BuyBlackWork.com
In 2020 Ashley Joi founded the website www.BuyBlackWork.com, a growing, curated collection of black and brown creativity and creative resources. The website features a highlight of emerging creatives, as well as resources to assist visual artists, musicians, and other content-producing creatives (such as podcast hosts) with their development and navigation of their creative industries. The site also offers direct links to minority-owned businesses as well as cultural groups and establishments, such as an extensive list of galleries that support work by Artists of color. Other areas of BuyBlackWork.com include literature, mental health and political resources, youth & outreach organizations, sports, tv, radio, comedy, financial and Greek organizations, and online publications, all with an emphasis on those founded by or catering to people of color.