I’m an abstract artist and writer based near Salt Lake City, Utah, working in acrylics, alcohol ink and mineral pigments. When the world doesn’t make sense, I lean heavily into my creativity, digging through layers with paint and making sense of what I find with words. Every piece is paired with an original poem or narrative, because what surfaces is never just mine.
My process is equal parts structured and free. I follow brush strokes and curiosity, practicing “what if” and letting something take shape without knowing exactly what it will become. Sometimes that means painting over something I thought was finished, watching it become something better or something completely different. Recreating in real time is part of the work. The acrylics are where I build pressure, layering and scraping, finding what’s underneath. The alcohol inks have their own momentum. They move and I respond. Both mediums teach me something different about control and release.
I didn’t always believe I could do this. I didn’t grow up around creative people, but I sketched and painted here and there, however, I convinced myself I wasn’t good enough. It wasn’t until I saw someone painting large abstract pieces for his own home, not as a career but simply because he loved it, that I understood abstract art could be mine too. I started playing. Over years that play became practice and that practice eventually became purpose. I sold my first pieces at a local market, had my first solo show in early 2025 and haven’t looked back.
I paint my confusion and write my inquiry. The layers I build, bury and scrape back are lessons in depth. I want my art to stop someone in their tracks, pull them in closer and when they read the words alongside the painting, land in the heart. My intention is for people to feel seen.
LINKS
kirstenasher.com
IMAGES
Kirsten Asher, “A Study in Green,” acrylic, 36×40 in.
Kirsten Asher, “Aftermath,” acrylic and mineral pigment, 36×36 in.
Kirsten Asher, “Clouds of Healing,” alcohol ink and acrylic, 24×30 in.
Kirsten Asher, “Emergence,” wine, acrylic and sand, 24×48 in.
Kirsten Asher, “Fragmented Thoughts,” acrylic, 30×40 in.
Kirsten Asher, “Forgotten,” coffee and acrylic, 36×36 in.
Kirsten Asher, “Interwoven,” alcohol ink and acrylic, 30×40 in.
Kirsten Asher, “Sacrifices,” acrylic and mica, 24×36 in.
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Categories: Painting | Utah Artists - A
