Red Arrow is thrilled to announce Ashanté Kindle's exhibition, Building castles in air at Austin Peay University! The exhibition runs from August 26th- October 4th.

"Building castles in air is a tangible expression of dreams I have for reshaping how we perceive personal realities. Inspired by the textures and stories of Black hair, I use it as both my inspiration and medium to explore diverse experiences and imagine new ways of existence. From my earliest memories, my hair ignited my creativity, autonomy, and sense of freedom. Through painting, sculpture, video and sound, I draw from these memories and dive into the grand and intricate scales within my work, magnifying the hair strand to symbolize the infinite cosmos. In my exploration, I find peace in the cosmos, where I discover the freedom to envision the impossible. Each piece in this exhibition takes viewers on an abstract journey through the narratives woven into Black hair. It encourages reflection on the personal stories entangled with hair care and styling practices. Through the use of dye brushes, hair bows, barrettes, and satin, I infuse my works with healing, joy, and protection, aiming to embed these qualities into our very essence, starting from our roots".

Ashanté Kindle is a multidisciplinary artist most known for her abstract sculptural wave paintings. Originally from Clarksville, TN, she received her BFA from Austin Peay State University (2019) and MFA from The University of Connecticut (2022). Kindle's work is grounded in the textures and science of Black hair and her personal healing journey back to self. Repeated gestures over time manifest as abstracted waveforms and become an act of labor and meditation that engages her body and emotions. She conjures feelings of autonomy and freedom, utilizing improvisation in her work as a vehicle for spiritual exchange. She was a NXTHVN Cohort 04 Fellow and has exhibited her work at Philadelphia's Magic Gardens, The Benton Museum, Red Arrow Gallery, Johnson Lowe Gallery, Sean Kelly and most recently a solo exhibition at Belmont University along with numerous other galleries and institutions nationally. Ashanté's work was recently acquired by The Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford, CT. She is represented by Red Arrow.