Curator’s Statement by Maxim Schmidt
Ashley Pelletier’s self-portaiture is rich in both emotion and texture, linking her thematic intentions to her process. Thick application of oil gives way to gestural strokes that construct her figurative form, avoiding representation that is rooted in realism. Pelletier’s representation of the self evokes a visceral sense of vulnerability, with concrete facial features replaced by expressionistic implications of perhaps a greater restlessness. Pelletier externalizes her internal being onto the external body, thus rendering the physical form in reference to this internal self. Though Pelletier is working in self-portraiture, her work thematically speaks to a greater humanity and its internalized complications - phenomenons of discontentment we all experience.
Artist Statement
"Our ability to perceive ourselves does not come as naturally as our ability to perceive the outside world. And this dissonance often leads to inner turmoil. In order to bridge this gap, I work in self-portraiture.
Working with my self-portrait allows me to practice introspection and examine my mental and emotional state. I work intuitively and allow my energy, mood, and emotions to unleash themselves onto the canvas. These paintings reveal feelings about myself and my body—allowing the viewer to connect with my innermost vulnerabilities. Although these works are self-portraits, I believe they speak profoundly to the human condition.
Working from a mirror, I make small oil paintings using myself as the subject. Although my practice is rooted in observation, my self-portraits are expressive and abstract. I build a rich surface through several layers of scraping and manipulating. These expressive marks represent a genuine and immediate reaction to my subject matter. I also hang varied colored fabrics behind me. I choose fabric colors that are found in the natural world. I use this as the basis, but accentuate the colors to create a somber mood.
By creating a somber atmosphere, it is my hope that the viewer connects with my personal belief that life is a struggle. And it is in this state of perpetual struggle that we come to truly know ourselves. “
About
Ashley Pelletier is a Providence based oil painter whose abstracted self-portraits represent the pursuit of self-discovery. In each portrait she embeds layers of meaning that consider her feelings about herself and about her place as a woman in a larger social context. Through self-portraiture, she exposes herself literally and figuratively, and allows the viewer to feel her innermost vulnerabilities.
Recently Ashley has moved away from representational methods of working to a more expressive approach. While working from direct observation, the bold marks in her recent paintings represent a genuine, immediate reaction to her subject matter. She is able to more effectively translate her emotions into paint. From a psychological perspective, one may say that the expressive marks embody her search for identity and a desire to grasp at something that is unknown.
Ashley holds a BFA in painting from Rhode Island College and is a current employee of the Rhode Island School of Design.
saatchiart.com/ashleypelletier
@anpelletier21 on Instagram