Ashley Buttercup is a Brooklyn-based artist who focuses on capturing moments through portraiture, collage, and abstract work. Often using her best friends as muses, her pieces are collaged together with paint, magazine clippings, and different levels of texture. Buttercup received her B.A. at Temple University, where she studied art direction and studio art. Her works have been exhibited in Japan as well as nationally in New York and Philadelphia. Create! Magazine is excited to share an interview with the artist to learn more about her career as well as her newest series of paintings called “The Visible History Project.”

Let's go back to the beginning - can you first talk about your earliest memories of art and why you first became interested in it?

I'm from an era of analog and no internet and so I was always gifted art stuff when I was younger. I had this one "how to draw cartoons with Blitz" video on VHS and would watch it over and over again with my brother. I don't know how popular he was, he definitely wasn't on Bob Ross's level, but Blitz was my first teacher. Haha, Blitz is not the reason why I got into art, but overall art was instinctive and a way for me to challenge myself.

You studied Art Direction and Studio Art at Temple University in Philadelphia. What type of work were you making then? What led you to focus on portraiture, collage, and abstract work today?

I wanted to go to art school, but I wasn't confident and never submitted my portfolio. I ended up at Temple University (main campus, not their art school lol) because they had an advertising course. I did a lot of traditional print ads and OOH mock-ups and minored studio art alongside my art direction major. I learned a ton of technical things like stretching canvases, oil painting, using a t-square, and art history. I had my first figure drawing class in college and really fell in love with painting. I also studied abroad in Japan, which furthered my curiosity in art and design. My art back then was mostly pastel figure drawings and collage work.

Tell us about "The Visible History Project." What was the reason for starting this project and what does it entail?

Each month I paint a portrait of an unsung black historical figure and talk about their stories on my social platforms. The Visible History Project emerged out of a necessity to re-educate myself on Black American History. When I was in elementary and high school, I recall grazing over the civil rights movement and Egypt- that was the extent of learning black history I received in public school. We spent an extensive amount of time learning about the victories of white America and Europe. After talking to many of my friends, it became evident that there was a need for an unearthing of Black American history. While I did learn a lot about black history in college, there's still so much that me and my peers don't know. My goal with this project is to be a catalyst for conversations and to reeducate people on the many black individuals that we aren't taught about in elementary and high school.

How do you choose which figures to present each month?

There's no method to who I choose to paint each month. For the most part, I stumble on them organically and I read up on them. If their story resonates with me, I feel immediately compelled to share. The Visible History Project can get emotional sometimes because as I'm learning about Black historical figures, I can see myself in their stories. I am a black woman with slavery in my ancestry; so their stories of tragedy and triumph are relatable to me and that's something I didn't have growing up.

What are your goals for this project and what do you hope those who engage with it take away from it? What is something interesting that you've personally learned through running "The Visible History Project"?

My goal with this project is to spread knowledge and shine a light on a history that has been muted. In addition to sharing these stories on my social platforms, I work with my cousin, Clark's Custom Apparel, to print the portraits on t-shirts with the intention to continue to spread knowledge outside of the digital landscape. There is obviously a need for more black storytelling and my hope is that my contributions can shine a light on the matter. All of the individuals that I have researched so far all had their own insecurities and learning about how they came into themselves is really refreshing. It's just about people being people and doing what they know- I think everyone can relate to that.

What are your plans for 2021? Any exhibitions, collaborations, etc you'd like to share or are looking forward to?

My plan for 2021 is simple: 1. to engage with more people 2. keep a close eye on where my art is being shown virtually. 3. leaning into being more innovative with my marketing. As far as physical exhibitions, who knows- I hope all my shows that were canceled last year can happen this year, but I'm not stressing myself over that. If I keep my plan simple then I'll be fine.

You can follow Ashley on Instagram or check out more of her work on her website!