Ash Ariel (or Ash Samuels) is a Caribbean-American artist, illustrator, muralist, and community arts educator based in Washington, DC. They hold a BFA in Illustration from the Rhode Island School of Design. Ash’s work blends imagination with introspection, creating fantastical illustrations that explore generational memory, black girlhood, neurodivergence, and emotional legacies—not as escapism, but as a way to process lived experience and challenge generational patterns.
Their illustrations and mixed-media works have been featured throughout the Northeast, including exhibitions at the Mexican Cultural Institute (DC), RISD’s Black Biennial (Providence, RI), and Gift of Life at Artists & Makers Studios (Rockville, MD). Their work also appears in publications such as The InQueery Media and Ikat Traditions: The Mexican Jaspe Rebozo. Ash regularly sells their art at regional craft markets and events.
Beyond their art practice, Ash facilitates welcoming, community-centered creative experiences and develops collaborative projects and murals grounded in care and connection. As an aspiring therapist and community arts practitioner, they bring experience in crisis counseling, accessibility, and arts administration to their work, with a focus on intersectionality and a love of storytelling. In April 2025, they launched NeuroNest, a growing creative studio rooted in care, expression, and accessible learning. While still in its early stages, NeuroNest offers community murals, workshops, and one-on-one or small group creative support—creating art spaces where people feel seen and supported.
Outside of art, Ash enjoys birdwatching, biking, handcrafts, and rewatching animated series like Infinity Train and Avatar: The Last Airbender.
For commissions, mural + event inquiries, or to connect:
AshSamuelsArt@gmail.com
CV & Creative Practice:
EDUCATION
Rhode Island School of Design, BFA
RESIDENCIES + TEACHING
2025 — The Potomac School Mural Residency, McLean, VA
Project lead, coordinator, and mentor for a school mural installation.
Project lead, coordinator, and mentor for a school mural installation.
2023 — Brown University/Rhode Island School of Design, Disability Chats, Providence, RI
Guest speaker on accessibility, disability, neurodiversity, and nonprofits in the arts sector.
Guest speaker on accessibility, disability, neurodiversity, and nonprofits in the arts sector.
ILLUSTRATION
Since 2018, Ash Ariel has worked as a designer, illustrator, and educator based in Washington, DC, sketching/painting at events, and creating work for editorial, nonprofit, community, and cultural projects.
For work inquiries, please email AshSamuelsArt@gmail.com
2024 — Ikat Traditions: The Mexican Jaspe Rebozo by Hillary Steel, Virginia Davis
Book illustrator for a cultural textile publication.
Book illustrator for a cultural textile publication.
2023 — The InQueery Semi-Annual Report, Washington, DC
Illustration for LGBTQ+ nonprofit publication.
Illustration for LGBTQ+ nonprofit publication.
2023 — ChatLGBT (The InQueery Media), Washington, DC
July illustrator for a community-centered digital platform.
July illustrator for a community-centered digital platform.
EXHIBITIONS
2025
- Interwoven: Hillary Steel, Mexican Cultural Institute, Washington, DC
- Gift of Life, Women’s Caucus for Art DC, Artists & Makers Studios, Rockville, MD
- DC Dyke March Community Showcase, Glass Class Studios Washington, DC
- Interwoven: Hillary Steel, Mexican Cultural Institute, Washington, DC
- Gift of Life, Women’s Caucus for Art DC, Artists & Makers Studios, Rockville, MD
- DC Dyke March Community Showcase, Glass Class Studios Washington, DC
2024
-Mindscape City, Sprout CoWorking Gallery, Providence, RI
-Art Enables & Friends Holiday Market, Washington, DC
-RISD Black Biennial, RISD Museum, Providence, RI
-As We Are, ISB Gallery, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
-Mindscape City, Sprout CoWorking Gallery, Providence, RI
-Art Enables & Friends Holiday Market, Washington, DC
-RISD Black Biennial, RISD Museum, Providence, RI
-As We Are, ISB Gallery, Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI
2023
-Dreamscape, Ten Moir Gallery
-Illustration Triennial, Woods Gerry Gallery, RISD, Providence, RI
-RISD Craft, Bi-Annual Alumni Art Sale, Providence, RI (2023–2024)
-Dreamscape, Ten Moir Gallery
-Illustration Triennial, Woods Gerry Gallery, RISD, Providence, RI
-RISD Craft, Bi-Annual Alumni Art Sale, Providence, RI (2023–2024)
2022
-Business as Usual, ISB Gallery, RISD, Providence, RI
-Illustration Invitational, ISB Gallery, RISD, Providence, RI
-Business as Usual, ISB Gallery, RISD, Providence, RI
-Illustration Invitational, ISB Gallery, RISD, Providence, RI
2016
Artists on the Rise, Juried Exhibition, Montpelier Arts Center, Laurel, MD