Statement

Tracy von Ahsen is an analog collage artist with a foundation in photography. von Ahsen’s work is a convergence of diverse symbolism. Her work is the combination of early influences from Long Island, a profound attraction to spirituality and, her muse, the urban landscape of New York City. von Ahsen combines these elements to express the enigmatic power that resides with the female form.

von Ahsen’s collages explore the intricate dance between urban life, the natural world and its corresponding items. She explores spirituality and emotions through a variety of settings combining, style & fashion with sexuality & identity. In her art, concrete structures are woven together with natural elements. This juxtaposition serves as a reflection of the multifaceted human experience and the constant interplay between the man-made and the organic. These landscapes are ever changing and being co-created with their observer. von Ahsen aims to be included in that conversation.

Central to her work, as a queer artist, is the celebration of the female form as a vessel of strength, grace, and spirituality. Through the careful selection of imagery, she aims to convey the inherent power and mystery that resides within women. Each collage becomes a tapestry of feminine energy, transcending physical appearances to explore the depth of the human soul. She is interested in inviting the viewer to go beyond the idea of physical form and reality itself.

von Ahsen’s art is deeply influenced by the ethereal and the spiritual. She seeks to tap into the unseen forces that connect us all, infusing her collages with a sense of mysticism and introspection. Each piece becomes a portal, inviting viewers to explore their own spiritual journeys and connect with the universal energies that surround us.

Through the meditative process of analog collage and channeling, she embraces the tactile nature of art creation. von Ahsen meticulously cuts and arranges images from various sources, allowing each piece to evolve organically. This tactile approach is an embodiment of the spiritual energy she seeks to convey.

von Ahsen’s hope is that her work resonates with viewers on both a visual and spiritual level; inviting them to contemplate the intricate tapestry of life, the enduring strength of the female spirit, and the profound connections that bind us to the world around us.

Bio

Tracy von Ahsen (b. 1981, Long Island, NY) is a New York-based collage artist whose work explores themes of mystery, sensuality, liberation, and transformation. Influenced by her early connection to nature and intuition, she developed a strong creative spirit that later merged with the dynamic energy of NYC. She lived at the Chelsea Hotel while earning a photography degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology artistic community, which played a pivotal role in shaping her creative vision.

Her early work in photography, marked by saturated colors, raw emotions, and layered compositions, served as a means of personal transformation, pulling from deep-rooted childhood traumas. As a way to understand and process these emotions, von Ahsen explored this inner world through self-portraiture, deconstructing Polaroids and introducing mixed media. Over time, this evolved into analog collage, where themes of identity, sexuality, and self-discovery took shape. She navigated a profound personal transformation, shedding past identities to embrace her truth as a queer woman and artist. This journey of reinvention was intertwined with experiences of addiction, recovery, and spiritual awakening, all of which deeply inform her work. Exploring the awakening journey and processing deep rooted belief systems, can be seen throughout her compositions.The female protagonist mirror’s von Ahsen’s commitment to self awareness and the transmutation of stored emotions.

Von Ahsen’s spiritual studies have also shaped her artistic practice. She spent time in India working with monks at Ekam and traveled to the Sacred Valley of Peru, where she participated in transformative Ayahuasca ceremonies with Shipibo curanderas. These experiences expanded her exploration of consciousness, healing, and the connection between the physical and the mystical. Communing with a higher power, Divine guidance and being in flow with all that is are paramount to her work. To create the work itself von Ahsen intentionally connects and co-creates with her higher self falling into a channeled state of awareness, infusing the work with healing energy. 

Von Ahsen’s art fuses classical and contemporary influences, using collage to explore spirituality while navigating modern life. She takes what’s current in popular culture and fashion, filtering it through her aesthetic mixed with the nostalgia of her personal history. Her work balances power and contemplation, blending surrealism with personal  style. Von Ahsen reimagines imagery, transforming it into narratives of identity, mysticism, and personal evolution. Based in NYC’s East Village, she exhibits her work in local galleries, including Van Der Plas Gallery and the Leslie Lohman Museum. The city’s energy fuels her exploration of self and spirituality in an increasingly complex world.