Ashley Folkner is a mixed media artist currently living and creating in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

From murals to amazing structures, she loves to create installations of personal art work as well as imagining and building fabulous pieces of painting and sculpture for events around Chattanooga.

Her earliest memories of creating art are in nature: making pieces out of things she found in the yard, painting rocks, and building environments: “nests” for herself, little artistic oases. She knew she wanted to be an artist when she realized that she can’t do anything if she's unable to put her heart and soul into the project – and that is what she aims to do in her art.

Studying at both the Savannah College of Art and Design (2001-2003) and going on to earn her BA in Sculpture from UTC (2007), she also spent time learning about philosophy, interior design, architecture, and media and the performing arts. Her well-rounded education gives her a unique vision of the world and the way her art fits into it.

After working as the display coordinator at Anthropologie in Warehouse Row (2013-2021), Ashley’s big break in Chattanooga was her first balloon installation for Casey Yoshida and Kacie Yates at Southside Creative in 2018. Since then, her career has skyrocketed and her work has appeared at sites around the city, including the Turnbull, Baylor School, the Heart Ball, Warehouse Row, and the Hunter Art Museum. 

Moving forward, Ashley is excited to collaborate with other creatives. She would love to help you bring the vision for your event, workspace, or home to life with mural pieces, exciting structures like her 2019 Hot Air Balloon install for the Turnbull, and any other unique projects we can dream.