About

I'm Ashley Cherie, the artist and illustrator behind Studio Cherie, based in Atlanta, Georgia.

My work is cute on purpose. As a 90s kid, my love of anime never left. I believe that's what landed me in a graphic novel sensibility. I have a sincere love of characters that make you want to lean in closer. That accessibility is the point. It's a trojan horse. Once you're in, you're sitting with Black Southern Gothic imagery. My roots trace back to Savannah and the Carolinas. That lineage drew me deep into Gullah Geechee tradition, ancestral memory, and the weight of things that don't get said out loud enough. I build vast inner worlds. My art is the vehicle out.

My ongoing fine art series, Southern Lore: Earth, Air, Water, explores the spiritual and ecological dimensions of the American South through its native creatures and landscapes. The “Melonheads” are a narrative universe that lives somewhere between folklore and character design. On the commercial side, I develop illustration collections, surface patterns, and digital products through my studio and Ko-fi shop.

I've completed international residencies, including an atelier in Cerisay, France, and I'm actively pursuing research-led opportunities in Europe. The work is always in conversation with place.

Based in Atlanta. Occasionally elsewhere. Always making. Thank you for stepping into my world. More soon.