Ash(ley) is a poet, performance and visual artist. She’s a poetry slut rodeo queen…and her style——she got it at Ross and stock shows.
Ash(ley) es una poeta, artista visual y de performance. Ash es la reina del rodeo poético…y su estilo—lo consiguió en las exposiciones ganaderas y Ross.
artist statement
Hi, it’s me. Ash.
My poetry-based works are multifaceted, sensual experiences that are the result of a varying combination of poetry, performance, and material creation. I aim to provoke a more sensorial understanding of Poem and a more verbal experience of Art.
My body, objects, words and the viewer work in tandem with unexpected forms of reading to erase the borders between witness, environment, and material. From writing and visual art to performance and installation, I create opportunities for shared intimacy with our obsessions and shadows in relation to the truths and lies that form identity and memory.
My practice explores the often silenced and, conversely, exaggerated connections between womanhood, sex, memories, time, and solitude. Through the lens of a country girl grown and erotic manipulation of body, items of domesticity, trash and poetry, I create provocatively human moments for voyeuristic reflection and liberation.
I adore putting on public display the inner-workings and contradictions of desire. I live to expose the lies behind the so-called truths of a “good woman.”
As the poetry slut rodeo queen of this get-up, it’s my aim to destroy academic definitions of publishing and to intimidate men and impress the ladies.
the poet\a/rtist bio
Born in 1986 in Amarillo, Texas, Ashley Michelle Casillas received a B.A. in Spanish Literature and in Latin American Studies at The University of Texas at Austin from 2005 to 2009.
Her words have been published by Tripwire, Disonare, Taco Bell Quarterly, Poetry Society of New York, TILT, Tiny Spoon, and other experimental forward publications.
Ashley’s art has been shown at Millennium Film (BK), La Clínica (OAX), Presa House Gallery (TX), Flower Shop Art Studio (TX), Lone Star Art Gallery (TX), and on the streets (CDMX, OAX) as part of her long-term object poetry FREE ART performance.
declaración de artista
Hola, soy yo. Ash. Esto es lo que tengo que decir de mi obra por ahora.
Mi poesía-arte nace de un proceso sensual de interpretación, memoria y juego material. Con mis objetos poéticos, propongo borrar los límites entre poema, persona y performance y cultivar una experiencia erótica compartida entre el lector, el objeto y mi misma.
Desde la escritura y el arte visual hasta la performance y la instalación, busco crear oportunidades de intimidad con nuestros pensamientos y memorias más oscuras. Mi cuerpo, mi trabajo y el espectador trabajan juntos a través de formas inesperadas de lectura y comunicación esencial, para brindar un significado más robusto a mis obras.
Con mis creaciones, exploro las conexiones muchas veces silenciadas y, a la inversa, exageradas entre la mujeridad, el sexo, la muerte y los recuerdos. Soy intrigada por el funcionamiento interno del deseo como una forma seductiva y a veces incómoda, de explorar las mentiras de una “buena mujer”.
la semblanza de la poet\a/rtista
Nacida en 1986 en Amarillo, Texas, Ashley Michelle Casillas se licenció en Literatura Española y Estudios Latinoamericanos en la Universidad de Texas en Austin, de 2005 a 2009.
Su obra ha sido publicada por Tripwire, Disonare, Taco Bell Quarterly, la Sociedad de Poesía de Nueva York, TILT, Tiny Spoon y otras publicaciones de vanguardia.
Ash ha exhibido su arte en Millennium Film (BK), La Clínica (OAX), Presa House Gallery (TX), Flower Shop Art Studio (TX), Lone Star Art Gallery (TX), y en las calles (CDMX, OAX) como parte de su performance de poesía-objeto, ARTE GRATIS, a largo plazo.
awards + residencies + workshops
Flower Shop Art Residency. Brownsville, TX. 2025
DISONARE 10 Poetry Publication Contest. Ciudad de México, MEX. 2025
Traigo poesía basura en el alma que no la mata el editor. La Clínica, Oaxaca, MEX. 11/7/25
Poetry is Trash. Búho Bookstore, Brownsville, TX. 26/5/25
Poetry is Trash. New Orleans Poetry Festival, New Orleans, LA. 12/4/25
Homecoming. The Poetic Lens, Millennium Film. Brooklyn. 2025
El Libro No Existe, Eróticas del objeto/sujeto/proceso editorial. ESTO ES UN LIBRO, MEX. 2024
Plantar es amar. Librería el Anhelo. Oaxaca, MEX. 2023
People’s Choice Award. Contemporary Art Month. San Antonio, TX. 2019
Multi-sensory Teaching in Museums for K-3 Children. San Antonio Museum of Art. TX. 2018
exhibitions + readings
ALMOST PUBLIC / SEMI-EXPOSED
ATA Window Gallery, San Francisco, CA
“does the carrier care,” Susan Wolf; “Free Songs,” Mary Graham; “Time Keeping,” Edie Trautwein; “The Rest,” Beril Or; “Now Entering HENRYTOWN,” Chris Erickson; “Stroking (My) Imaginary Dick ” Ash(ley) Michelle C.; “Bad News Normal,” Z Fondanarosa; “Ikebana Anywhere Anytime,” Laura Cohen; “A Cleaning,” Selby Sohn; “Ode to Chaplin,” Camila Bianchi; “Shine 4 U,” Jasmine Zhang
19/12/25
SCRIBES
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE
Group reading, Jerusalem Coffee House x Tripwire
Fadl Fakhouri, Ash(ley) Michelle C., Finn Finneran, Joni Prince, Stevie Redwood, Icecitymaroon, David Buuck
26/10/25
Only Dust Knows What’s Left Behind
Group show, Presa House Gallery, San Antonio, Texas, Curated by Jesus Treviño
Artistas participantes: Barbara Minarro, Esther Marie Hall, Josue Bessiake, Veronica Gaona, Stephen Longoria, Daniela de la Pena, Yental Marquez, Alexa Hernandez, Samantha Chiccoperri, Enrique Palacios, Ash(ley) Michelle C. Ivan Marinez Flores, Jo Locke, Pastiche Lumumba, Mariana Prado
16/8/25 – 13/9/25
ERRR BOOKS PRESENTA
Lectura de poesía, Liquen de Pamela RM, Dolores 54, Ciudad de México, MEX
Artistas participantes: Pamela RM, Dafne Carballo, Ash(ley) Michelle C., Babou Diébaté, Daniela Solís, Belafonte Sensacional, Tony Gallardo
31/7/25
TITLES 10
Exhibición colectiva, La Clínica, Oaxaca City, Oaxaca, México, Curated by Yam Lau y Rita Camacho Lomeli
Artistas participantes: Kathleen Hearn, Yam Lau, Ash(ley) Michelle C., Eréndira Aragón, E Tonatiuh Trejo, Máquina de aplausos, Rigoberto Diaz Julian, Victor Mortales, Bariza Benmehenni, Julio Barrita, Rita Camacho Lomeli
7/25-8/25
DISONARE
Lectura de poesía, Palabras Aparte… de Jonas Mekas, reading, EXIT La Librería, Ciudad de México, MEX
Lectores participantes: Diego Gerard, Rocío Ceron, Daniel Monroy Cuevas, Darinko Chimal, Sergio Alonzo, Lucía Hinojosa, Francesco Pedraglio, Maureen Muse, fernanda ramos mena, Nadia Baram, Ash(ley) Michelle C., Miguel López
26/6/25
JAPI
Group exhibition, Flower Shop Art Studio, Brownsville, TX
Participating artists: Pastiche Lumumba, Jo Locke, Iván Flores, Ash(ley) Michelle C.
30/5/25
HEAR ME OUT
Group exhibition, Ante Books, McAllen, TX
Participating artists: Pastiche Lumumba, Jo Locke, Iván Flores, Ash(ley) Michelle C.
9/5/25
THE POETIC LENS
A Night of Poetry Films, Millennium Film Workshop, Brooklyn, NY, Curated by Michèle Saint Michel and Erica Schreiner
18/1/25
contact
Your message has been sent
Thanks for stopping by, y’all.
