Open Studio with Artist Ashanté Josey at Nafasi on Centre – Collector’s Preview

Artist Ashanté Josey invites you to step into her creative world for a special studio experience. Josey is a Pittsburgh-based visual artist whose work centers Black culture, spirituality, emotion, and the beauty of Black life.

Her blended acrylic and oil portraits draw inspiration from artists such as Frida Kahlo and Kehinde Wiley, and her practice is grounded in creating pieces that connect deeply with viewers. In addition to exhibiting her work, she teaches art and completes commissioned pieces for collectors.

For more than 13 years, she has cultivated a practice rooted in the belief that art is a powerful form of communication. Drawn to the process of bringing ideas from her mind into tangible form, she finds inspiration in music, emotion, the conscious mind, and the depth of Black culture, understanding culture as the foundation from which art emerges. Her work reflects a sense of interconnectedness between humanity and nature, inviting viewers to engage not only visually but emotionally.

Painting remains a personal and spiritual discipline that sustains curiosity and deepens her understanding of both the world and herself. She approaches each piece as an exchange of energy, grounded in the conviction that art carries feeling and can offer healing. Rather than creating solely for admiration, she creates works that can be experienced and felt deeply.

Monday, March 9 | 6:00–7:30 PM Collectors’ Preview

A ticketed, limited-capacity evening for art collectors. Get a first look at new work, explore acquisition opportunities, and engage directly with the artist about the vision behind the collection.