As part of our Periphery exhibition, The Gallery invited artists to share their creative process and the ideas behind their work. Durban-based artist Ashley Mets reflects on her shift from realism to illustration and the inspiration behind her collection Femme Muse.
Ashley began her artistic journey working in realism, believing that art needed to look realistic in order to be valid. But in 2024 she allowed herself to step away from perfection and experiment with figure-based illustration. This new approach brought freedom and joy, leading to her ongoing collection, Femme Muse.
In Femme Muse, Ashley explores feminine figures and their connection to the earth, showing how female power is rooted in nature. She chose to distort her figures intentionally, moving away from the strictness of realism to embrace a more playful, free, and design-driven approach. “I wanted it to be more about colour and design than about skill,” she explains.
Her inspiration was also influenced by a concept she came across called Moditeranian — a blend of modern and Mediterranean aesthetics. Ashley envisioned combining the bold, sun-soaked colours of the Mediterranean with contemporary, stylised figures, and that vision became the foundation of Femme Muse.
Within the Periphery theme, her works depict figures whose skin blends into textural backgrounds, contrasted by solid colours in their clothing and accessories. This contrast reflects the divide between materialism and the natural world. For Ashley, it represents a reminder to women that their true power comes from being grounded in the earth and nature, while clothing and accessories, though expressive, do not define their identity. Through Femme Muse, Ashley challenges perceptions of femininity, inviting viewers to consider where real strength and identity lie — not in external adornment, but in a deeper, more authentic connection to nature.