About Ashley-Maria
Ashley-Maria Gilson (Ash or Ashley) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Washington State, working in photography, ink, and charcoal. Her work explores themes of texture, contrast, and emotion—often shifting between internal landscapes and the natural world.
Ashley earned her Associate’s Degree in Photography from Spokane Falls Community College in 2019. Her creative roots were planted in the darkroom, where she fell in love with the slow, tactile process of developing film. This hands-on experience sparked her deep connection to alternative processes like mordancage—a technique that lifts the emulsion of silver gelatin prints to create delicate, veil-like distortions. The unpredictability and fragility of the process mirror the emotional atmosphere she often explores in her photographic and charcoal works.
Most of Ashley’s photographic and charcoal art seeks to be intimate, imperfect, and deeply human, with a focus on mood, movement, and inner emotion. In contrast, her ink drawings turn outward—centering on animals, plants, and organic forms inspired by the natural world. These pieces embrace a sense of curiosity and connection to the rhythms of life outside the self.
Across mediums, Ashley’s work reflects a balance between introspection and observation—between what’s felt and what’s found.
For print inquiries, commissions, or collaborations, please get in touch through the contact page.