Ashley Joi

Ashley Joi is a mixed-media Artist residing in Northern Virginia. She enjoys using a vast variety of materials alongside acrylic paint in the creation of her imagery. Her work is often heavily influenced by African mythology, fantasy, and societal issues effecting communities of color.

Ashley 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 in 1999, and while earning an international baccalaureate certificate in painting. Her 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 practice has evolved over the years to include the addition of a diverse selection of mixed-media elements. Her 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’s newest body of work is meant to evoke emotion, and create a dialogue about societal and racial issues. The mixed-media elements used in the creation of the imagery often relate to the subject of the piece, such as gauze and fabric in relation to death due to gun violence in the United States. Exploring the effects of black and brown ancestral experiences on modern society, topics of spirituality and cultural origin are also heavy influences in Joi’s work.