Artist of the Month – Nellie Ashford

Folk Art

 

Born: Charlotte, NC

Education: Carver Junior College and North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC, and Shaw University, Raleigh, NC

Degree: B.S, Psychology and Social Science

Ms. Ashford Rawls is a self-taught folk artist that uses the stories in her childhood to create hundreds of art collages on board, paper and canvas. She uses acrylic paints of bright colors along with found objects of fabric, sand, wood filings, and other natural things to create her paintings. “I began to paint because of my third oldest grandson. I paint about people, places and things that don’t matter to anyone anymore. Yes, I am a folk artist and the advantage is that I tell people I am allowed to break the rules that the trained artist would not dare do.” is often quoted by Ashford.

Her works can be located in a variety of places in the US, Canada and Swaziland, Africa.

In North Carolina you can find her works of art in Charlotte galleries Picture Perfect Framing, Studio 7, and Coffey & Thompson Gallery, Unity Place in St. Stephens AME Zion Church, Gastonia, The Foster’s Art and Frame Gallery, Huntersville, Red Piano Gallery Too, St. Helena’s Island, and La Benson’s Art Gallery, Beauford, SC.

Works of her art have been commissioned by a number of organizations in Charlotte, NC. She also has been a guest of friends of the arts in News Orleans, Louisiana. Most recently, the Afro American Cultural Center in Charlotte, NC presented her with the Artist Achievement Award. She resides in a rural area in Charlotte where she paints in her home.

Phone:704.398.2513 or E-Mail: nelliewashford@yahoo.com. . Limited addition artist proofs and prints of her work are available for purchase.