We were lucky to catch up with Ashley Perez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Ashley, thanks for sharing your insights with our community today. Part of your success, no doubt, is due to your work ethic and so we’d love if you could open up about where you got your work ethic from?
I actually have a hard time relaxing. I know this comes from anxiety, which often makes it difficult to celebrate my successes because there’s always another hill to climb. That drive can be a motivator, but I’m learning not to rely on worry as the fuel. Instead, I try to focus on curiosity and the discoveries that come with being in a “flow state.” It’s a feeling of confidence in a task—any task—and I find myself chasing that energy. This means I’m often moving from one project to another. My background in arts education, community engagement, and studio practice has taught me to see challenges as problems or puzzles to solve. I like examining the variables and constraints to figure out what’s possible with the skills I have. I always learn something along the way, and that expectation keeps me motivated, because I know the result will have its “shiny moment” if I keep working at it long enough.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a visual artist, and I’ve been doing this for over 20 years. I first discovered my passion for painting and all things creative in high school, when I joined SAY Sí, a non-profit creative youth development program in San Antonio. That place, and the people there, helped me understand the role of art in the community and how it can help shape the future. We all know how important it is to see ourselves reflected in the success of others, and I was lucky to experience that with SAY Sí. I had plenty of mentors, and I thank God every day for that time. Building on that foundation, I stayed close to the program, eventually moving from youth mentor to Visual Arts Director. While I’m no longer on staff, I carry those lessons with me and continue to look for ways to create change in new and innovative ways.
Right now, I’m on a ‘bold journey’, making my art practice a priority in a way I never thought I could. For years, I’ve carried fear about taking this step, even though I have community support, role models, and proof that I am capable. Still, there’s always that voice in the back of my mind asking, “What if?” I was raised by a single mother of three in public housing and on food stamps. That history makes it hard to let go of the fear, fear that I might fail, lose everything, and end up back where I started. At times, this fear has controlled me, because let’s be honest, being an artist can feel like an insane choice. The insane part is not the making of art, that is the most sane and grounding thing a person can do, but the fact that I can pay my bills through it.
This year, I completed my first public art commission, a monumental metal sculpture located near San José Mission. The official unveiling is scheduled for later this year. I designed the piece with support from the World Heritage Office and the City of San Antonio. The trust and enthusiasm from everyone involved has been incredible. As a painter, primarily, it was a big leap to design a sculpture and collaborate with engineers and fabricators to bring it to life.
I also had the honor of being selected for the New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) Immigrant Artist Mentorship program. This cohort of mentees and mentors included some of the most talented and caring artists I’ve ever met. The program offered resources on grants, budgets, marketing, and, best of all, we were paired with mentors to support our specific goals. I was fortunate to be paired with artist Mark Menjivar, whose projects (especially his bird-related work) and socially engaged practice I have long admired. From our very first meeting, I told him I wanted to have my first exhibition outside San Antonio and my first art residency. He immediately recommended Casa Lü, an artist residency in Mexico City. When I told him I couldn’t afford it, he said, “Let the community send you.”
I applied, was selected, and with the support of Mark and my loved ones, launched a GoFundMe campaign that made it possible. I just returned from a 33-day residency there, where I also held a solo show. I was scared when I first got the acceptance, truly scared, but I pushed through, and I’m so glad I did. That time was a gift, and I will always cherish it.
In addition to my studio practice, I serve as the Arts Ambassador for the San Antonio River Foundation, a new role for the organization. In this position, I collaborate with passionate experts in their fields and share my gifts at the intersection of art and nature.
Currently, I have work in two exhibitions:
NYFA Cohort Group Show: On View, September 5 – October 25, 2025, Russell Hill Rogers Galleries, UTSA Southwest Campus, Durango Building, 1st Floor, 300 Augusta St., San Antonio, TX 78205.
Confluence of Cultures: Nuestra Gente, Cultura, y Comida, on view through January 16, 2026, The Cultural Commons Gallery, 115 Plaza de Armas, San Antonio, TX 78205.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Asking for help is an important skill in all aspects of life, but it’s one I struggled with for a long time. It always felt like submission, which is an incredibly vulnerable act that required humbling myself in ways that were deeply uncomfortable. Of course, I always encouraged my students to ask for help, but I rarely practiced it myself. I didn’t want to be a bother, and I lacked the confidence to believe I was worth someone’s time. It took years to embrace this practice, but now I rely on it. This obvious yet essential skill came into sharp focus in 2022, when the workers of SAY Sí formed a union. We became the first art education nonprofit in San Antonio to do so, led by a small but determined group, many of whom were alumni like me and only recently out of college. We had to lean on one another while articulating our demands, all while continuing to run a premier multidisciplinary arts program with exhibitions, curriculum, and funding needs. We did it, and today SAY Sí is stronger than ever.
They are now preparing for their Small Scale Big Impact Auction & Celebration on September 19, 2025. I’ll have a piece up for auction alongside many other great artists. It’s a great opportunity to add to or start your collection while supporting a wonderful cause.
I can be tough, especially when I’m feeling particularly overwhelmed, but you need to stay up on the art in your community and the larger world. You’ve got to go to the lectures, shows, and read the things. That connection is vital. Every neighborhood has its own pulse, and as much as possible, you need to pursue those moments. First, it’s a reminder that you are not alone; you’re part of a worldwide network where science, history, politics, and innovation all intersect, and where art serves as the connective tissue. Art can often feel inaccessible, but I’ve taken an “exposure therapy” approach: I try to enter these spaces as if I belong there. It’s a bit of a fake it ‘til you make it strategy, but it works. Along the way, you build relationships and discover opportunities that can create a lasting impact.
The third skill would be to respond to emails and other communications effectively. I would always tell my students this because people don’t have time to deal with a flighty artist, unless you’re already a huge deal. I personally love working with people I can rely on, and the same is true for funders, galleries, museums, and collectors. This skill is not as sexy as some others, but in my experience, it’s a gesture of respect. It shows understanding that I’m privileged to do this creative work, and responding promptly is the least I can do.
That said, we all have different capacities in the areas I’ve described, and it’s important to work in ways that are both sustainable and realistic.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
I like to go on walks with my dog, Bexar, at one of the trailheads near my house and all over the city. Along the way, I get to enjoy some incredible public art by a few of my favorite artists: Cade Bradshaw, Adriana Garcia, Ashley Mireles, Kaldric Dow, Margarita Cabrera, and Anne Wallace. Sometimes it’s too hot, or it gets too dark to wander out, but whenever I make the effort, I always come back feeling more grounded and regulated.
Contact Info:
- Website: ashleyperezart.com
- Instagram: ashleypaints_
- SoundCloud: https://www.facebook.com/ashley.sanchez.520900/about
Image Credits
María Jessica Brown
