A Minnesota native, Ashley Mary is a multi-disciplinary artist, muralist, and designer who splits her time between Minneapolis and Des Moines, Iowa. Ashley’s work is defined by a signature whimsical shape and pattern language. Whether she is composing an intimate collage or a large-scale environmental mural, her work maintains a consistent visual through-line that celebrates color, playful patterns, organic form, and the "perfectly imperfect."

This distinct aesthetic has allowed Ashley to move fluidly between her studio and the commercial world. Her distinct visual language has translated into self-branded collections for major national retailers, as well as collaborative projects across brands nationwide. By translating tactile studio "scraps" into sophisticated brand stories, Ashley transforms public and private spaces into immersive, delightful experiences.

Her studio in Minneapolis is at the Northrup King Building and in Des Moines, you can find her at Mainframe Studios. Sign up for her newsletter to get more updates on her studio and commercial work happenings.

My studio is my playground—a place where colors and shapes are my favorite tools, and the only precious thing is the time spent enjoying them. My practice is a study in syncopation—an intuitive, non-linear approach to painting that feels more like a jazz session than a static composition.

Working with a high-key, saturated palette, I build surfaces through a fast, physical process of layering and excavation. I move between brushes, palette knives, and my own hands to create an experience that values movement over precision. My work explores the tension between my background in structured design and a deep-seated need for improvisational play. The result is a tactile, light-filled visual language—a collection of gestural forms and messy textures that invites the viewer to find delight in the spontaneous, the unrefined, the wildness.

I believe in curiosity; I believe in the experiment. .

In this way, my art becomes a visual mantra for the kind of life I hope to practice. My work is a tending to my spirit and how I connect to myself and others.

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