Ashley Tagliero is an exceptionally versatile artist whose charcoal creations reflect a profound engagement with material, process, and meaning. Captivated by charcoal's paradoxical nature delicate yet powerful, raw yet refined—she transforms this medium, born from the decay of the natural world, into a tool of revival. Through the act of erasure, she breathes life into what was once lost, creating a robust dialogue with the viewer. This transformative process beautifully mirrors her ongoing exploration of the human hand, a timeless symbol of connection, labor, and expression.
In her evocative series, "Erasures of Touch," Tagliero invites us to navigate the increasingly blurred boundary between the real and the artificial in an era defined by rapid digital change. Utilizing a reductive drawing technique, she begins with a canvas entirely cloaked in charcoal, revealing only the image beneath a pair of hands gently emerging from darkness through the delicate power of erasure.
Each of the three works in this series is a rich tapestry woven from a hybrid of sources: personal photographs of those dear to the artist, stock imagery, and AI-generated visuals. Viewers are presented with the question of which hands are rooted in authentic human experience and which belong to an artificial realm. Does it really matter?
Some pieces exhibit a subtle yet striking distortion of proportions, reflecting the uneasy blend of real and synthetic imagery in today's visual culture. Tagliero's incorporation of AI references introduces an exhilarating tension not just in form but also in the creative process itself. While AI-generated images can hasten creation, personal references carry a weight that speaks to intimacy and time. This contrast invites us to engage with more profound questions of authorship, authenticity, and the evolving role of technology in creative labor.
Through her art, Tagliero's hands transcend mere representation—they provoke a thoughtful inquiry. With each layer of charcoal peeled back, they challenge us: Where does reality conclude and the digital realm commence? What do we cherish more—the source or the outcome? Through her meticulous, subtractive process, Tagliero invites us to confront our own assumptions about truth, touch, and transformation in the ever-evolving landscape of art.
Hilary and Trump Election
New Orleans, 2016
25 in x 18 in
Charcoal on Canvas
connexion, 2024
24 in x 18 in
Charcoal on Canvas
Is that chroma key blue?
2024
24in x 18in
Charcoal on canvas
Divine Comedy
2024
24in x 18 in
charcoal, oil pastel on paper, canvas
Python shed in 3 Days
2025
40 in x 30 in
Charcoal on canvas
Blue Collar
2025
10 in x 10in
Charcoal, Paper, canvas
Draftswomen
2025
9 in x 8in
Charcoal, paper, canvas
img+cv2.imread22025
8 in x 8in
Charcoal, paper, canvas
Dr@ftsVVo^^en
2025
9in x 8in
Charcoal, paper, canvas
Vamoose
2023
24in x 18in
Charcoal on Canvas
