Lucky 7: Ashley Morgan
“I hope my work reaches people. I hope my work allows people to respect and hold space for sex workers, I hope my work can help any woman who sees it feel just a little better about herself and embrace her own feelings, sexuality, and difficulties.”
I recently visited the Sexploratorium, an adult sex education and community space, in Denver to see “Queerlesque Presents Cirque Oh So Gay”. While I was poking around the little sex toy museum and combing through the books on polyamory a piece of art on the wall struck me.
The piece [seen in the TikTok below] was painted by Denver-based artist, Ashley Morgan.
The powerful imagery caught my eye, but the story behind it made me want to learn more about this talented, local artist.
In this interview with Ashley Morgan, we discuss her dreams of love and fame, how she discovered her connection to erotic art, and how art can play a role in the celebration of personal and bodily autonomy.
1. Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Ashley Morgan, I am a Denver-born and based artist who works primarily in oil paints, printmaking, and photography.
The content of my work surrounds themes of sexuality, feminism, dysfunctional dynamics in relationships, independence, and mental health.
I am a feminist, I’m queer, and I am also proudly Jewish.
2. How did your household/groups outside of your home treat the topic of sex and eroticism when you were growing up? How do you think that informed your view on sexuality in your life and in your art?
Growing up, I had a very unique mother who was a hippie working as a doula in the medical field. She had also worked for the Colorado AIDS project in the 90s and was very supportive of me becoming an artist and coming out as bisexual.
I was lucky enough to have the childhood I did because it absolutely led me in a positive direction when it came to having these kinds of conversations and creating the work I make.
3. Was erotic art and content creation always something you wanted to pursue?
Actually, no. I often painted discount commissions for my friends in the sex work industry to make some extra money during college. When I was working on school projects, I often found myself trying to avoid the topic of sexuality completely until a project was presented for my painting class.
I realized over time that I truly enjoyed making work of a sexual nature. It’s also allowed me to embrace my own sexuality.
4. What has the evolution of your work looked like? When did you start exploring erotic subject matter?
Painting nude was something I did a lot, especially in college. My photography had always been either very whimsical or very focused on the concept of mental health.
Painting slowly became my favorite medium to express sexuality due to its classic nature and historical roots. I began exploring erotic subject matter near the end of my college years. The first erotic painting I made was “What’s the problem? You’re watching too” [the piece featured in the tiktok above] which was meant to confront a double standard that persists in both art consumption and within our current culture.
I wanted to dissect the feminine experience of sexuality and content creation while also criticizing societal attitudes toward said sexual content.
“I love you” [left] “But, I love me more.” [right] - Ashley Morgan, 2023
After that painting, I ended up going through a really difficult breakup which led me to deep-dive into the view I have about both my sexuality and who I was as a person. This eventually led me to paint “I love you” as well as “But, I love me more.”
5. Pick a piece of your work and tell us about it. What was behind the concept of this piece? What story are you trying to tell? Did you like it when you published it and do you still feel the same way?
“My body, the new apartment” - Ashley Morgan, 2024
I would actually love to talk about my newest painting: “My body, the new apartment” which I only just finished this past week. I began working on it in October of last year. It began as a celebration of my autonomy, as I had been recently single and moved into my own apartment.
It ended, rather, as a love letter to myself and my resilience. I think it’s one of the nicest things I have done about myself despite how badly I didn’t want to work on it anymore near the end of the year.
6. What do your personal and artistic futures look like for you?
Ever since I was a kid I dreamed of being famous. I also dreamed of being in love and in a happy relationship.
The way things are going? It’s looking like I will achieve both of those dreams by thirty.
I suppose you could call me an optimist.
7. What influence do you hope to have on erotic art?
I hope my work reaches people. I hope my work allows people to respect and hold space for sex workers, I hope my work can help any woman who sees it feel just a little better about herself and embrace her own feelings, sexuality, and difficulties.
I make work for feminine empowerment, and I likely always will.
Anything to plug?
You can find me on Instagram @amidst_livingartists :)
