Ash Kleczka of Tucson, AZ on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Ash Kleczka shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Ash, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
One of my true hobbies is classic web design and pixel art!

I’m not a professional web designer, and I feel like I barely have a working knowledge of how things work – but I’ve been keeping a wholly self-indulgent neocities site for a few years now that exemplifies what we would consider tacky design today (think blinking text, custom cursors, auto-playing music, etc.) It’s given me a place to feel unburdened by the social media hamster wheel; and I’m pretty proud of that. As a result of all the tinkering, I’ve also gotten into pixel art and small animations. It’s all so far outside of my “public artistic career” that I really don’t get the opportunity to talk about it!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Ash, though I go by The Prussian Blue or Umber across the web. I’m a trans/queer multidisciplinary artist with a background in game design and fine arts – and have spent the past few years developing original world-building content for eventual (emphasis on eventual here) self-publishing.

The bones of the story so far, are built from the first hand experiences of an archivist turned adventurer as he digs deeper into the cosmic underpinnings of the world.

D&D, horror, Gnostic imagery and storytelling have all played a part in defining the visual language that I use in my work; however, while there is plenty of space for heavy themes, I’m also known for the occasional tongue-in-cheek humor. Easily my most popular print is just a collection of butts.

I have a studio in downtown Tucson with Subspace Art Collective and regularly take part in First Saturday Art Walks if ever you’re in the area!

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
I think probably my relationship with my best friend.

I’ve always struggled with identity and self worth, not just tied to gender, but deeper, more complex concepts of the self that were built on the sands of an inconsistent childhood.

We met when we were 13 and she’s been a grounding force for me ever since. Her friendship has really helped me to understand that not only do I exist – but I exist in a way that people are capable of remembering unprompted (for better and for worse).

This is a woefully short answer for a very complicated matter of identity haha. Suffice it to say that I’ve been massively bettered by having her in my life.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I came clean to the people around me about my mental health struggles, my gender and sexuality, and the finer points of past traumas pretty much all at once and without warning just before Covid lockdowns.

It was, perhaps, the most difficult series of words I probably should have planned out but didn’t. I was no longer capable of hiding any of it though. I figured, if I put everything out on the table fully expecting to lose everyone – anything else would be a pleasant surprise.

Fortunately I can I say that I was surprised.

Finally having the opportunity to be honest about my life has allowed me the space to fully embrace how I’ve persisted through it all out of spite. I’ve taken all of my past “you’ll never succeed”s and flipped them into a personal challenge to prove them wrong.

Finding balance in that is difficult, but it keeps me going.

I hope the work I do that explores what I’d kept hidden helps show people that might deal with similar that they’re not alone in it.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
I think culturally we place adulthood on a very austere pedestal where you’re expected to completely reject the child you were as soon as you turn 18.

There are always exceptions, of course, but I’ve really come to believe that most people, regardless of age, are the same kids they once were – just trying to make sense of everything in an ever changing world. Which, I guess is to say that your parents, bosses, educators, etc. are just people – fallible and doing it scared just like you might be.

It’s a change in perspective – but it’s one that has really improved my ability to understand and communicate with people on a fundamental level. At the same time it’s allowed me to extend that grace to myself and let myself embrace the things I enjoy without having to pretend I don’t have whimsy.

You don’t have to age out of playing with sticks and bugs, you know?

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
A very emotionally and intellectually…itchy…individual. I find that I really can’t sit still for very long, and being completely taskless is a challenging state to be in haha.

I think underneath it all I’d find that I’m still a creative – artists always find a way to make their mark. The real benefit would be no longer being obligated to care about sales, social media, and project pitches, market applications, etc. I feel like managing myself as a business can be pretty suffocating in terms of inspiration and creativity.

I think starting fresh would allow me to actually concentrate on the projects I’ve wanted to do for years but can never seem to find the time to pursue.

I have a book to write; a game to code; and so…so many paintings just waiting for me in the wings.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://umbertheprussianblue.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theprussianblue/
• Other: https://linktr.ee/theprussianblue