Ashleigh Alexandria: The Virgin Artiste Wages War on Invisible Enemy

(Editor's Note: Astori wrote this magazine profile on Ashleigh Alexandria, Hampton University (HU) Alumnus, in partnership with HU.)

In the years following Alumnus Ashleigh Alexandria’s 2012 walk across Ogden Circle, she has been painting portraits of celebrities with New York City’s nightlife scene as her backdrop. The self-proclaimed “Virgin Artiste” co-founded Souldega, a New York-based women’s art collective and brought her artistic visions to life through curating music videos, short films and events for people in her community.  

But following the birth of her daughter in 2017, Alexandria’s focus changed. The lens of postpartum depression, a mental health disorder characterized by a lowered mood following the birth of a child, distorted her view. Postpartum depression and all of its woes - anxiety, irritability, loss of appetite, concentration, loss of interest, feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy - left Alexandria feeling as if she was blending into the background of motherhood.

So, she changed her perspective/focal point. Her “baby blues” became her muse and like an art form, she explored the inner workings of herself and her artistic talents in a new way.  

“It was either to go deeper into depression or to get out of it by being creative,” Alexandria said.

On her quest to rescue herself from the mental war she was battling against an invisible enemy, Alexandria chose body painting as her weapon of choice.  

Alexandria leaned on her artistic skills to implement a tried and true battle tactic - camouflaging. She used a painting technique to blend in with her backgrounds in order to deliver a sneak attack and overcome the tricks of her enemy. With each battle - or paint session - she learned something about herself and her weaponry skills became stronger. Little did she know she was essentially guiding herself through art therapy one paint session at a time.

“[Body painting] is my superpower now,” she said. 

Her surrealistic body painting style, not only reconnected Alexandria with herself, but also her daughter, her passion and her ‘Home by the Sea.’ The depths of her soul-searching and pursuit of unconditional self-love can be seen in a series of photos of her body painting she calls “Camouflage” and now cover the walls of Brooklyn Tea, a trendy tea bar in New York co-owned by tea sommelier, Alumnus Alfonso Wright. 

“‘Discernment’, ‘Abiding’ and ‘Full Moon’ - all of these [works of art] touch on intuition, manifestations, affirmations…all the things I feel have helped me pour into reaffirming  myself,” Alexandria said. 

She credits the dreamlike, cerebral feel of her art, that often leaves viewers with the impression she photoshopped the work to the Black artists and fundamentals she learned while studying Fine Arts at Hampton University. It was in Hampton’s art department that she was introduced to David Hammond’s color theory - the principles and guidelines for working with color that includes pure colors (hues), their values, mixing and the perceptual effects of color. 

“All of the things I learned at Hampton, I put into action on myself when I’m doing self-camouflage,” she said. “I’m matching colors and it’s like a puzzle.” 

At Hampton she learned about the Black artists who came before her. When Alexandria picks up her camera, she is reminded of iconic photographer Lorna Simpson who boldly confronted and challenged conventional views of gender, identity, culture and history.

Hampton University Alumnus John T. Biggers’ projection of the power and beauty of Black women as a cosmic, creative force in his famous murals inspired Alexandria to lean on her feminine superpower as a driving force of her artistic work.

“[These artists] inspired me to want to give back to my community, to inspire and uplift my people through my work,” she says.

Her battle with postpartum depression and her means of survival inspired a new vision and purpose far beyond just painting a body.  The art form now helps her share the stories of others. 

“I created one photo where my friend is blended into the background and a police officer is walking by,” she shared.  “It shows how society ignores Black women and we’re in plain sight. They want us to be invisible or keep us in the background.”  

Alexandria’s healing continues. 

“I found that painting people is dynamic,” Alexandria reflected. “We heal each other.”

To keep up with new art pieces and upcoming events featuring The Virgin Artiste, visit www.virginarte.com or follow @thevirginartiste on Instagram.