"A retired nurse, Ashley Chappell's journey into photography unveils a tale of resilience and pursuing dreams. After being forced to leave nursing a decade ago due to lupus, Ashley found solace and purpose behind the lens during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her photography embodies a captivating duality. Inspired by the earthy beauty of nature, her work simultaneously exudes opulence and luxury, reflecting her upbringing in a middle-class African American household surrounded by African art and rich textures. Utilizing a painterly technique, Ashley infuses her photographs with a unique aesthetic that blurs the line between photography and painting. By intentionally departing from the strict realism of her subjects, she creates a visual language that embraces artistic expression and subjective interpretation. T
