All About Ashley Nicole, Owner/Lead Artist of ArtzyBella Studio + Shop
I was born in Southwest Atlanta. My family lived in College Park on Washington Road in a small apartment. My parents split when I was young which was difficult for my sister and I and I quickly found an outlet in the arts. I got my first job at 14 and have been working ever since. At 17, people around me told me college was too expensive and that art was a waste of a career, so I went to college, got confused, dropped out, and went back to work.
In my mid-20s, I quickly found that I had a strong ability to communicate with, inspire, and mentor teenage girls who had trauma and difficulty understanding their self-worth. I worked as a social worker by day, and youth advocate by night. By 27, I had gone back to finish school and even obtained a Master’s degree in Child Developmental Psychology. I spent 5 years working directly with over 800 women, 500 sex trafficking survivors, and 300 children and families.
At 33, after doing countless commissions, I have finally figured out my personal artist identity: the type of work I want to exhibit and be remembered for. People will get to see that in 2019.
Im an independent artist who built a brand around her work. ArtzyBella Studio + Shop is an essence a reflection of who I am, whats important to me, and what I find beautiful. In 2019 Ill continue to offer art making parties and classes but our main focus will be to create beautiful, interesting, and very authentic pieces of art in a variety of mediums for clients and for sale in our shop, all handmade by me and a few of my artist assistants.
My work in mental health helped me understand the power that art has to enhance people’s daily lives and positively promote emotional stability. ArtzyBella is a socially responsible company offering economic opportunity to sex trafficking survivors, apprenticeships for middle and high school students, and jobs for college students, discounted services for public service workers, and art therapy for Atlanta residents.
My long term goal is to be a international commissioned artist making wall murals, public and street art and unique 3D installations. The difference between the commissions I have now and what I want to work towards, are the amount of creative control I have over the visual execution of the subject matter.
I work harder now than I did working 9-5 jobs. I get up at 5am and go to bed at 1am. I spend the hours I am awake strategizing, marketing, and learning. I read a lot more and I surround myself with influential entrepreneurs, soaking up as much knowledge as possible.
PO Box 91684 Atlanta, GA 30364
(o) 404-913-9904
(c) 404-759-9003
Wynn Westmoreland 