2-D art, including murals, mosaic, photography, etc.
Community engagement and social justice
Pittsburgh Creative Corps Artist Directory
Ashanté Josey
AJoseyArt
Primary Discipline
Artistic Practice
Painting/works on paper/printmaking
Assemblage, including found objects, multimedia
I am, 2021, vinyl window mural. Exhibited as part of “There is Black Art in the Future” created by the International Free Expression Project in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership.
Earth and Bank on Books, 2019, vinyl mural. Installed at the Pittsburgh International Airport.
Island Vibes, 2021, digital. Slushy cup design commissioned by Giant Eagle.
Ascension, acrylic and oil on canvas, 24″ x 30.”
Community Investments, 2018, acrylic on canvas, 60″ x 24.” Collaboration with students on permanent installation at Community Forge.
About the Artist
Ashanté Josey is a Pittsburgh-based visual artist whose work explores Black culture, identity, spirituality, and emotional storytelling. Working primarily in oil and acrylic paint, she creates portraits and figurative works that celebrate the beauty, complexity, and humanity of Black life. Influenced by artists such as Frida Kahlo and Amy Sherald, Josey uses symbolism, rich tones, and expressive body language to examine themes of healing, family, self-awareness, and connection.
Her recent work focuses on full-body family figures and shared cultural experiences, using personal and collective memory to process family history and create space for reflection and dialogue. Through her practice, Josey aims to deepen representation of Black people within contemporary art while honoring everyday experiences and emotional truths.
Alongside her studio practice, Josey is deeply engaged in arts advocacy and community work throughout Pittsburgh. Her artwork has been exhibited and collected by institutions including Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh International Airport, and August Wilson African American Cultural Center. In 2025, she was recognized for her advocacy and contributions to the arts as a Pittsburgh Courier “Fab 40 Under 40” honoree. Josey is also a member of Women of Visions, the longest-running all-Black women’s art collective in the United States.
Photo by Emmai Alaquiva
Web
Accreditations, Certifications, and/or Awards
- Pittsburgh Courier’s 40 Under 40 for Artist and Artist Advocate, 2025
Provides Fabrication Services to Other Artists
No
Teaching Artist
Yes, ages 5 and up
Joined the Directory
July 2026
Related
PROJECT
Pittsburgh Creative Corps
Designed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pittsburgh Creative Corps initiative engages artists and creative workers to activate the public realm while providing economic opportunity.
“Public art expands my practice from personal reflection into communal exchange where the work can affirm, inspire, and be claimed by the community it exists within.”
Ashanté Josey
Contact the Artist
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Related
PROJECT
Pittsburgh Creative Corps
Designed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Pittsburgh Creative Corps initiative engages artists and creative workers to activate the public realm while providing economic opportunity.
