Ashley Gilreath

Jewelry and Sculpture

Hanging on the walls and hidden in the corners of our homes are the photographs and works of those who came before us. These seemingly mundane and irrelevant objects are the indexical records of family and human history.

Accumulating visually in layers and decaying with the passage of time, these remnants of our physical world provide tangible reference points for how we understand one another; and ultimately ourselves. It is my belief that books, furniture, clothing, and even silverware can influence the dynamics and relationships between past and future generations.

Bio

Ashley graduated from the Metal Design program at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina and has since been an Artist-in-Residence at Lillstreet Art Center (Chicago) and Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts (TN). Her jewelry has been featured in several publications and permanent collections, including Lark Book’s 500 Necklaces Series, American Craft Magazine, the Racine Art Museum (WI) and The Enamel Arts Foundation (Los Angeles).

Ashley’s conceptual artwork explores both our relationships with family and with personal objects, and as such can best be described as artifacts of her genealogical history. Her observations and fascination with inheritance, ancestry, and the loss of memories informs the designs of her jewelry and sculpture.

Besides her studio practice, Ashley finds happiness in gardening, karaoke, hiking, and collecting antique books.