TAKE BACK YOUR BODY PROJECT

This project is a spell we cast together.

A space for women and non-binary/genderqueer folks who reject the capitalistic, patriarchal idea of body as object or machine…

…and dream of a world where all bodies are sites of care, connection, creativity and delight.

"The painting you did of me hangs on my wall across from my bed. It is the last thing I see when I turn off the lights, and the first thing I see when I wake up each morning. Days when I struggle and crawl into bed to hide, I lay there looking at it. I see something beautiful and strong. I see myself on my best days, and I am amazed that you could completely capture me in a way no photograph has. I have shorter sad days now because art is healing. Art of yourself is pure magic."

Roxanne
"I have several Ashley Trabue pieces in my home and love them all. My favorite is a figure painting based off a self-portrait I took of myself naked. It's hard to put into words what it feels like as a person in recovery from an eating disorder to have a custom painted portrait of myself in my home. It is an absolute treasure and brings me incredible joy every time I look at it. Ashley creates a unique and empowering experience throughout the art-creating and buying process. Anyone who gets the privilege of working with her to create a custom piece is very lucky."

-Amilia
"Ashley Trabue is magic. I was wanting a piece of art that spoke “powerful, able and strong” just by looking at it. She created custom art for me that totally blew away my expectations. I hung it by my bedroom door so I could see it as I walk out everyday. I feel seen, heard and known when I look at that portrait. Every dang time."

Kristen S.
"If you’ve ever considered treating yourself to a personal experience like this, you absolutely should! Ashley was awesome. I’m not really a person who would feel comfortable nude in front of a stranger, or coming up with my own poses, but she lead me through the whole session and I absolutely loved every single one of the paintings she did. She did an excellent job bringing me out of my shell. I appreciated the communication prior to the session. She asked about my reasoning for doing it, and what I hoped to feel when looking at the paintings. She captured all that I hoped to feel. Don’t think twice, book this experience now!"

-Stephanie

Behind the project

I started painting the human body over a decade ago in college while in recovery from an eating disorder.

My upbringing in a high control church, situated around purity culture, ingrained within me an inherent shamefulness toward my body, emotions and identity.

Through the lens of art, bodies became a tapestry of shadow and light. A landscape of textures, shapes, and spatial relationships. Over time, my appreciation for painting bodies began influencing how I experienced my own. and I began painting and found the experience healing, cathartic and enlivening.

Since 2019, I've been sharing this ritual with women and non-binary folks, and together, we explore and deepen our wells of self-respect, appreciation and care through the art-making process.

TAKE BACK YOUR BODY PROJECT

This project is a spell we cast together.

A space for women and non-binary/genderqueer folks who reject the capitalistic, patriarchal idea of body as object or machine… …and dream of a world where all bodies are sites of care, connection, creativity and delight.

Behind the project

I started painting the human body over a decade ago in college while in recovery from an eating disorder.

My upbringing in a high control church, situated around purity culture, ingrained within me an inherent shamefulness toward my body, emotions and identity.

Since 2019, I've been sharing this ritual with women and non-binary folks, and together, we explore and deepen our wells of self-respect, appreciation and care through the art-making process.

A space for women and non-binary/genderqueer folks who reject the capitalistic, patriarchal idea of body as object or machine…

…and dream of a world where all bodies are sites of care, connection, creativity and delight.