‘So much beauty’: Young Quebec artist depicts Black women in masterpieces
Posted April 3, 2024 11:24 pm.
Last Updated April 3, 2024 11:52 pm.
She has always been drawn to art — meet 18-year-old artist Ashley Simo who immigrated to Quebec from Cameroon in 2008. Her roots, inspiring her to represent Black women from a different perspective in her masterpieces.
“Sometimes we see ourselves negatively or the world sees us negatively,” said Simo. “Because we always have to fight for our rights and kind of a suffering kind of mindset.”
“But I wanted to show that there’s so much beauty and complexity in the Black community and Black people,” she added. “That’s what I represent with my colours, is just like the internal beauty that I see within us.”
Simo’s creative journey began with sketching –- then painting lessons at 10 years old, where she fell in love with the medium.
“I love painting because it makes me feel free,” explained Simo. “And helps me connect with people by sharing my message.”
“My goal is to really change the perception we have on the community.”
“I take the spatula, the knife, to put on some colour and texture especially on the woman,” said Simo about her oil painting process. “I really choose each colour intentionally.”
The colours and texture –- intentional.
But depicting Black women in her art, is something she says she gravitated towards naturally.
“I’m really proud of the fact that she’s doing painting based on our culture,” said her mother, Guylaine Simo. “We came here in Canada, she was only two years old and she never let’s say ignored the fact that she was coming from Africa.”
Each painting, takes her about ten to 12 hours to create.
And now, she shares her passion with the world. Selling her art at pop-ups and events since 2020.
One can even rock her work –- with the creations printed onto items like bags and water bottles.
“The part that I prefer the most is really like giving the painting to someone,” said the artist. “When people look at it and they tell me that they are feeling something, this is when I’m like okay that’s why I’m doing this for.”
