Artist Statement

Enter the realm of Ashley Edes, a visionary amalgamator—a fusion of artist, curator and archivist driven to “re-myth” media—unleashing the creative potential in all of us.

Edes’ analog collages are rebellious mashups of the Divine, weaving a potent reverence for feminism, the erotic, and earth-based spirituality.

For Edes, art transcends mere personal expression—it's a tool for collective transformation. Firmly grounded in the belief that symbols hold the keys to defining and perpetuating a culture's value system, she fearlessly delves into the collective unconscious to explore alternative modes of existence. By dissecting the known, she crafts compositions that boldly surpass prevailing narratives, subtly reshaping both our inner landscapes and the fabric of our reality.

Her lineage, a tapestry of anarchy and publishing, fuels her fire. From her cousin Penelope Rosemont—a steward of the Surrealist movement in America and a pioneering artist-activist-author—to the revolutionary spirit of her ancestor, Benjamin Edes, whose legacy paved the way for female literary voices, Edes carries forth a torch of liberation and empowerment.

Continuing her heritage of uplifting conscious creators, Edes actively participates in women and gender-expansive exhibitions and projects. Noteworthy among her recent contributions, Edes was featured in Our Mother the Mountain, a 2022 group exhibition at La Mama Galleria alongside luminaries such as Swoon and Betsy Damon. Additionally, she made history by being part of the inaugural NFT Biennial, the Every Woman Biennial 2021: My Love is Your Love.

In 2020, Edes’ collage 'Oshun' was selected for Judy Chicago’s Solstice: Create Art for Earth virtual exhibit. Demonstrating her fervor for feminist surrealism, Edes co-curated and exhibited in ARS UNA | ART IS ONE in 2019, commemorating the 100th anniversary of surrealism, alongside artists Delphine Diallo and Penny Slinger.

While rooted in Maine, Edes ventures abroad for weeks at a time, exploring and gathering materials. Currently, she is immersed in the development of an oracle deck featuring her analog collages, spawning from a global counterculture archive.