John was born in Silver Spring, Maryland and currently resides in the Bronx,
New York. His professional career officially began after he graduated from Virginia Commmonwealth University where
he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts. Since college,
Ashford has exhibited in Chicago (at The Sears
Tower), Atlanta (The Black Arts Festival) and has had solo art shows in Miami, Los Angeles, Boston, Nashville, Philadelphia,
North Carolina, Baltimore and several other cities in the United States. Japan, Africa, Paris and London have also showcased
his artwork. John has illustrated several CD, video, and book covers as well as had his work featured on television
and in the movies.
Ashford's paintings have appeared on "Martin", "The Jamie Foxx Show", "For
Your Love" and "The Parkers" to name a few.
John has been featured in Upscale Magazine, The New York
Times, and Newsweek of Japan. In 2001, Sony Music Entertainment also contracted John to illustrate a commemorative piece
as a dedication to Black Music Month.
Ashford is currently working on a coffee table book which features
over 100 of his paintings and poems entitled "Bluberry Cool Aid; Portraits in Blu". 2005 was the fifth year
that
John has created a calendar published by
Shades Calendars. Currently
John is
hand painting on shoes, boots, and handbags (
www.johnashford.ws) for stores such as Petit Peton. He also teaches art to several hundred middle school aged children a week in
the Bronx, New York. Also the summer of 2007, "Colored Frames" a documentary film on contemporary black artists
featuring John Ashford will be available @
www.amazon.com.
