Ashley Perez

Ashley Perez is a ceramic artist based in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. She creates handbuilt sculptural and functional works defined by abstract, organic forms, tactile surfaces, and a considered balance between restraint and expression. Her practice centers on how objects influence the atmosphere of a space.

Following a late diagnosis of neurodivergence, Perez became increasingly attuned to the relationship between environment and emotional experience. Clay emerged as a grounding medium, guiding her toward work that reduces visual noise while engaging the viewer through form, texture, and the interplay of light and shadow. Each piece is shaped intuitively, allowing the material's natural movement to inform the final form.

Her work has been featured in group exhibitions including 1000 VASES in Paris, as well as local shows at Nidum Gallery, Drummond Studio Gallery, Redux Contemporary Art Center, The Gibbes Museum of Art, and The Scouted Studio.


Artist Statement

I came to ceramics after spending much of my creative life working digitally as an author and marketer. When I was late-diagnosed as neurodivergent, I began paying closer attention to how my environment shaped the way I felt. Clay became the thing that grounded me, calming my mind and showing me how art can influence the energy of a space.

My work moves between minimalism and bold expression: quiet palettes and simple forms that create a sense of ease, and punchy color and texture that spark playful curiosity. What connects them is a consistent focus on abstract, organic forms, tactile surfaces, and sculptural shapes that interact with light and shadow. Across that spectrum, my work aims to reduce visual noise so the viewer can focus on what resonates most with them.

I handbuild each piece and allow the material to guide me. Clay can be unpredictable. Rather than forcing it into a specific form, I lean into its movement. The result is work that feels alive. Whether calm or expressive, each piece is designed to shape the atmosphere around it and, in turn, the way we experience our days.


www.harlow.studio