the name change…

Born as Ashley Tajadod, my name never felt like it belonged to me. Like the title of the book didn’t match the cover. There were always two Ashleys in a room growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s and let’s just say we never looked alike. My last name was always a topic of conversation, but it wasn’t until I was sixteen in Hot Springs, Arkansas during 9/11 that I felt I needed to hide my Iranian heritage. After a decade of enduring racist remarks about my ethnicity and wanting to start my career as an artist, I decided to not use my last name all together. To replace it with Joon, a Persian phase used after people’s names. Only recognizable as Persian to Iranians. In 2014, my career as Ashley Joon took off. It wasn’t until my father’s cancer diagnoses in 2017 did I realize how important and what a gift it is to have my last name. And so began my identity crisis.

It took a few years before I admitted out loud that I wanted to change my first name to Joon. That Joon was the name I grew into and Ashley never felt like me. And after already successfully establishing myself as artist, it wasn’t an easy path to take on. But in thinking in terms of the legacy I want to leave and what feels authentic, continuing as Ashley Joon wasn’t an option. It’s a chapter in my life I have so much gratitude for. My chapter of self discovery. In 2020 I finally had the courage to come forward as Joon. I took a few years pushing myself creatively to reflect this transition through my work. Now my paintings feel like a looking in a mirror as who I am now. Visit Joontheartist.com

Bio

  The need and desire to create called so loudly I had no choice but to become an artist. My love affair with creating started as far back as I can remember, holding coloring books like sacred treasures. I’m the first generation born in America on my father’s side; the complexities of being Iranian- American deeply impacted who I am. I grew up moving states every few years and was challenged by constantly starting over. Between the factors of being biracial and moving so often in my childhood, creating art was my only coping mechanism. I briefly lost my connection with art while completing my business degree at the University of South Florida and later working in the corporate world. It didn't take long for me to notice how unhappy I was without creating. I became determined to find who I was artistically and to live a creative life. After 5 years of teaching myself how to paint, I found my creative voice.  Words can not describe how gratifying it was to finally see myself in my work. 

Artist Statement

Using acrylic paint, I create abstract florals with a balance of instinctual movement and subtle observations. Meaning, I dance as I paint using the rhythm of music to guide my brush while pulling imagery from my imagination, photography, and live flowers. With my intuitive technique, I paint without inhibitions, allowing myself to move wild and free and letting my paintings develop organically layer after layer. Through this give and take process an interweaving effect naturally occurs amongst the layers capturing different moments in time. 

I’m drawn to the life cycle of flowers, how they grow through dirt, endure elements they can’t control, bloom gorgeously yet become more interesting as they age and wilt.

I indirectly portray different parts of myself and femininity, showing both fierceness and softness in my work through color and brushwork. Naming my floral pieces after women, either creating a character or after someone I’m inspired by, is my way of celebrating feminism.

I strive for my work to carry positive energy that will influence their surroundings. My hope is for the viewer to forget about their troubles and simply immerse themselves in brushstrokes.