Bright and Shiny

ASHLEY DREYFUS is ERUPTING

BY HEATHER HAMILTON-POST

Boise artist Ashley Dreyfus is a woman on the brink–a Yellowstone paint pot reflecting turquoise and fire, a geyser about to erupt. Driven to create, she views art as an escape from the world and something of a resting place, should you need it. “It’s how I view the world. I just want to share a piece of how I’m feeling, and I’m trying to show positivity every single day,” she explains.

This isn’t hyperbole, either. Just over three and a half years ago, Dreyfus challenged herself to draw something new each day for an entire year, which helped crystalize her personal artistic style. Since, she’s shared her drawings on Instagram every single day. Without social media, Dreyfus says she’d still be creating art, but she’s grateful for the exposure the digital world has afforded her.

AWARD-WINNING ARTIST Ashley Dreyfus thinks of her characters as alter egos of human beings that exist in the world, androgynous and joyful, which is how she strives to live her life. “I genuinely hope that the artwork just resonates with everyone–that they’re able to feel the way that I do when I create my art,” she says.

Photo by Chris Mannix

This of course includes her recent win–a cash prize, magazine feature, and artwork printed on 30 million cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, which is a new medium for the artist, who, in her 23 years, has worked on digital art, murals, fine art paintings, and recently, skin, as she trains to be a tattoo artist.

Her work, which Dreyfus describes as shiny and bright, is meant to be accessible to folks of all ages. She’s inspired by artist Keith Haring,who she says exhibited the same motivation and drive that she strives for. “I want to keep his dream alive with my art,” she says.

Dreyfus also wants to make sure young women are heard, and says she doesn’t see a lot of female representation in Boise’s street art. “And that’s kind of why I feel so passionate about what I do. I want women to create art freely,” she emphasizes. She says she’s never really felt the pressure one might expect a young and successful artist to feel because of that freedom, which she says allows her art to continue to be a release.

Like Yellowstone’s abundant landscape, Dreyfus offers a uniquely western perspective–and, while she grew up in Sun Valley, she considers Boise home, and doesn’t plan onleaving anytime soon. Dreyfus is grateful for the kindness toward artists, and the colorful art the community has inspired. Her winning piece for PBR is called “There Is No Place Like Home”, and she emphasizes that it comes from a place of truth–she loves being home and in this community, where she lives with her mother and animals.

“I want to be able to help put Boise on the map–to show that this is a really cool artistic place with lots of people progressively moving forward in their craft and doing really cool stuff,” she says.

Dreyfus’ work appears around town in coordination with other local artists as part of a partnership between the Idaho Suicide Prevention Hotline and Drake Cooper aimed at showing the community that there’s always someone to listen and drawing attention to the hotline. Dreyfus acknowledges that the pandemic has made an impact on everyone, and says the key to her continued positivity has been prioritizing mental healthcare and extending patience to herself.

She knew, for example, that college wasn’t for her, and says she’s glad she resisted the pressure to follow that path. “I create art simply because it makes me feel more human. Don’t feel like you have to have guidelines or checklists to pursue art professionally–you can do whatever you want,” she says. “Throw caution to the wind and just create art.”

A NEW MEDIUM: Dreyfus’ work will be printed on 30 million cans of Pabst Blue Ribbon beer, after winning a competitive online contest hosted by Pabst.