Ashley Longshore Paints Summer Memories

Count on artist Ashley Longshore to deliver positive vibes through her colorful artwork.

Whether it’s exploring new outdoor places like the Wölffer Estate Vineyard's drive-thru, finding new delicious treats—living for Armin & Judy’s breads and pizza—discovering a new account to shop on Instagram (love my @shopblueone fashion guardian angels) or simply looking at a piece of art that expands my thinking and creative juices, I’ve been craving all things that exude positivity and happiness. You can always count on artist Ashley Longshore to deliver such vibes—and then some—through her colorful artwork, which is representative of the world she sees around her: pop culture, politics and everything else the Louisiana-based talent finds intriguing.

“I didn’t know who I was or what I was going to do. I picked up a paintbrush one day and found joy that I’ve never felt before, and being a full-blooded American woman, I decided I was going to make a career out of this,” Longshore tells me about how she got her feet wet in the arts. Now, her accomplishments include painting for celebrities like Blake Lively and Pene?lope Cruz, redesigning Palette cafe at Bergdorf Goodman, launching an exhibit celebrating women at Diane von Furstenberg’s Meatpacking District flagship and teaming up with Lizzie Tisch for a star-studded activation in Bridgehampton.

“I love color and very big in-your-face statement and conversation pieces. You could call it pop art, but I call it Ashley art,” she says. Her portraits of women are widely celebrated, from Michelle Obama to Frida Kahlo to DVF and more. Longshore also loves painting her muses, many of whom are moms. Social media has become an intimate platform allowing for direct access to her fans—just check out her account @ashleylongshoreart and you’ll see the likes pouring in.

Her personal style is just as statement-making as her work,one of the many reasons she is an inspiration to designers such as Christian Siriano. Longshore painted during his fashion show at New York Fashion Week last September, a fond memory during these nostalgic times. “We met on a very Hamptons-like beach in Florida and clicked immediately,” she says of Siriano. “Fashion is self- expression. I had to get to the point where I got brave enough to do that, and it’s still evolving every day, but

I fully support fashion because you don’t need $1 million—you need style and to understand who you are on the inside so you can project it on the outside. Sometimes I feel like a cartoon with diamonds glued onto my teeth and my huge sunglasses. But that’s me.”This summer, Longshore will focus on painting and the release of her latest Smalls collection—unique pieces that she makes twice a year— while swimming. “I love pools, lightning bugs and barbecues,” she says. “Eating ribs and corn on the cob in my bathing suit is what summer’s all about.” I can jump on that bandwagon—just with a glass of rose? from Wolffer, please.