That’s Ash 

My name is Ashley Ferreira otherwise That’s Ash and I was born and raised in East of Johannesburg. Ever since I was a child, I loved taking things apart, putting them back together, and customising them to understand every detail. Later on, I pursued a career in mechanical engineering, working for an engineering company that taught me valuable skills in design, manufacturing, and re-engineering. I then went on to open my own engineering practice, which was a great achievement for me. 

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When the pandemic struck, I had the opportunity to reflect on my life and decided to make a bold move to Cape Town, a city I had always admired. Here, I discovered my true passion for creating through spray painting, and sculpting. Thanks to my engineering background, I am able to bring my imagination to life in unique ways. 

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My art style is inspired by my favourite genre of art, which is pop art. It has taught me you can give everyday objects new meanings. In my early works, I featured beloved cartoon characters from my childhood, such as Mickey Mouse and Richie Rich, and added neon lights to draw attention to specific parts of my artwork. 

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However, my true passion blossomed when I created my own character, Bare Bear. From the first sketch, I knew this was the one. Bare Bear can capture every sense of feeling in any given moment. In fact, I am creating an entire collection dedicated to my beloved character. 

 

I am fairly new to the art work - I am only just beginning to embrace my creativity and I am excited about what the future holds for me.