Ashley Chappell: Photography as Emotional Archaeology
Ashley Chappell, a Chicago-based photographer and former nurse who left her job due to lupus, transforms her personal struggles and Black heritage into striking, surreal images that merge fashion and fine art. Her work has been featured by platforms like Der Greif, under the curation of Sarah Lewis and Jessica Williams Stark, as well as Fotografiska Emerging, Vogue Philippines, and PhotoVogue. Moreover, she participated in the exhibition 'Reflections in Black: A Reframing' at Temple University, curated by Dr. Deborah Willis. Influenced by figures such as Kerry James Marshall and photographers like Tim Walker and Paolo Roversi, Chappell uses color to convey emotions. Following a devastating pregnancy loss and kidney failure, she rediscovered her passion for photography, allowing her to delve into themes of grief and identity.
Key facts
- Ashley Chappell is a Chicago-based photographer.
- She retired from nursing due to lupus.
- Her work explores Black identity, emotional memory, grief, and diasporic imagination.
- She uses color, blur, and shutter drag to create dreamlike images.
- Her work has been featured by Der Greif, Fotografiska Emerging, Vogue Philippines, and PhotoVogue.
- She exhibited in 'Reflections in Black: A Reframing' at Temple University, curated by Dr. Deborah Willis.
- She is inspired by Kerry James Marshall, Tim Walker, and Paolo Roversi.
- She is self-taught, learning photography through Skillshare.
Entities
Artists
- Ashley Chappell
- Kerry James Marshall
- Tim Walker
- Paolo Roversi
- Sarah Lewis
- Jessica Williams Stark
- Deborah Willis
Institutions
- Der Greif
- Fotografiska Emerging
- Vogue Philippines
- PhotoVogue
- Temple University
- Lenscratch
Locations
- Chicago
- United States