ASHLEY COLLINS
B. 1967 (PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA)
A self-made powerhouse in contemporary art, Ashley Collins emerged from homelessness and assault to become one of the most recognizable female artists working today.
Collins' journey is as layered as her paintings—each one built from antique book pages, archival material, and fragments of history, then torn apart and reassembled using industrial tools. It’s a process that mirrors her life: beauty forged through brokenness, and strength carved from struggle.
Her large-scale mixed-media works aren’t just seen—they’re felt. Viewers often describe a visceral connection to the texture, scale, and emotional depth. Collins believes in imperfection as truth, and in art as a form of healing—not just for herself, but for those who experience her work.
Beyond the canvas, her impact is global. She has personally funded over 10,000 cleft palate surgeries for children, supported orphanages, built schools across multiple continents, and provided vaccines and medical care in underserved regions. In recognition of her humanitarian work, Collins was named a United States Envoy for Tanzania and Africa.
As an artist and philanthropist, Collins bridges the emotional and the material—reminding us that art is not just about what we see, but who we become.
