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In a world often painted in muted tones, Ashley Longshore enters like a firework display at a black-tie gala.
She is one of the most audacious and unapologetic voices of pop art, a creator whose canvases sparkle as much as her electric personality. To meet her is to experience a whirlwind of charm, wit, and unfiltered bold brilliance — a true Queen of modern art with a rebel’s streak.
Newsweek spoke with the artist as she was about to display at Aqua Art Fair during Art Basel in Miami. “Well, first of all, just let me start by telling you, this is my first art fair. And I’ve been out there hustling for 30 years. As you know, they do not consider me a commercial artist, and I have not been allowed to participate in art fairs because they don’t consider me a commercial artist,” she revealed.
Ashley Longshore is one of the most audacious and unapologetic voices of pop art. A creator whose canvases sparkle as much as her electric personality. Ashley Longshore is one of the most audacious and unapologetic voices of pop art. A creator whose canvases sparkle as much as her electric personality. Harol Baez/Ashley Longshore
The artist continued, “I’m like, I have three stories in a building in Soho. My rent’s $50,000 a month. What do you mean I’m not a commercial artist? I’ve worked with, you know, Bergdorf Goodman, Gucci, Diane Von Furstenberg, Shisedo, I’ve done a global thing with f**king Maybelline. I’m not a commercial artist? No, the bottom line of this is I don’t give up 50% to a f**king gallerist and I’m their worst nightmare. So, this whole thing is about financial independence. It’s about art. It’s about giving the middle finger to the f**king patriarchy. It’s about capitalism. It’s about the most American thing we could possibly do. And that’s for somebody to tell us no – and to go out there and start our own f**king company. I am coming in so hot as a full blown, hot-blooded capitalism loving American f**king woman.”
Longshore’s work, often likened to Warhol for its pop culture reverence, transcends mere homage. Her signature style juxtaposes iconic imagery — Audrey Hepburn swathed in graffiti, Ruth Bader Ginsburg crowned in florals — with biting wit and an unabashed love for maximalism. Yet, her work is not merely decorative; it is confrontational, feminist, and celebratory. It’s art that dares to look you in the eye and wink.
When asked to describe her work, Longshore said, “Bold, unapologetic, colorful, in your face, honest, provocative, hilarious.” She continued about her work, sating, “You know, the thing that I love that I think the art world really doesn’t appreciate, the fine art world, is – I’m of humor. And I can be in one part of my gallery and people come in and they’re reading the text on some of my paintings, and, they’re belly laughing. Some of these things that people really, really relate to. You know, they come in and they go, ‘Oh my God, I was having a bad day and now I just feel great.’ And I’m like, ‘Well, honey, you can come into this world whenever you want.’ The door is open for you, you know?”
Ashley Longshore is one of the most audacious and unapologetic voices of pop art. A creator whose canvases sparkle as much as her electric personality. Ashley Longshore is one of the most audacious and unapologetic voices of pop art. A creator whose canvases sparkle as much as her electric personality.
Born in Montgomery, Alabama, Longshore did not emerge from the rarified halls of art academia. Instead, her journey is one of grit, determination, and a brash spirit that would make even Cher blush. She marketed her art directly to collectors and embraced social media, turning her business into a multimillion-dollar empire.
Longshore’s ascension has been nothing short of meteoric. Her collectors include Blake Lively, Salma Hayek, and Penélope Cruz amongst many other A-list types. Nothing is stopping Longshore, who gave Newsweek a preview of some things to come from her. “There’s some really, really big things happening. I’m doing a very exciting project with Shania Twain in Vegas. And I’m going to be opening a news space in New York that I’m very excited about. I’ll be leaving my current space the end of March and I’m opening something really, really, really exciting.” she revealed
Yet, there is depth beneath the glitter. Longshore’s commentary on consumerism, gender roles, and fame is as sharp as her rhinestone-studded nails. She is unafraid to poke fun at the very culture that celebrates her. “No, the world is terrifying, and I want to create an environment that brings me joy and happiness. I love color. I love outrageousness. I love to have a good time. I love dancing on tables. I love big dinner parties where I pick up the taps with my friends. I want to laugh. I want to dance. I want to laugh so hard that I pee in my pants. What people get when they walk into my world is me. They’re buying my spirit a hundred percent,” she stated.
Longshore is not just an artist; she is a bold expression of creative energy. She doesn’t speak, she roars, proving that art, like life, is best when it’s experienced on full blast.
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