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 was born in 1981 on Long Island, New York. Time spent at the beaches and woods near her home, cultivated a deep, intuitive connection with the natural world. She was seeking validation from her older brother who had his own struggles preventing him from fully accepting her. The natural world helped shaped her creative spirit. In her formative years she moved into the Chelsea Hotel in New York City while completing her photography degree at the Fashion Institute of Technology (F.I.T.) in 2001. The hotel served as a constant reminder of the artistic and creative voices of the past. Using Polaroids, slide film, and a blonde wig, she began to explore themes of emotional exhaustion & sensuality. Polaroid provided the instant gratification she long for to fill an empty space left in childhood. Her art became a window into her subconscious mind, capturing fleeting emotions, hidden fears, and unresolved traumas. As a young adult, Tracy started to confront her most profound transformation: shedding her old identity to embrace the truth of who she was, both as an artist and as a queer woman. This process of self-liberation included the ending of a marriage, a relapse back to drug addiction that plagued her 20s and eventual recovery. Her addiction was linked to a deep sense of not belonging and social anxiety, as well as, a desire and pull to explore higher realms of reality. Tracy began to rediscover new forms of artistic expression, specifically analog collage. Collage allowed her to weave together pieces of her own story into new, cohesive forms. She began to see her emotional landscape as something mutable and malleable
In 2014, Tracy traveled to India to work with the monks at Ekam, deepening her understanding of consciousness and the nature of the self. She later spent time in the Sacred Valley of Peru, where she worked with the Shipibo in multiple Ayahuasca ceremonies, further deepening her connection to the mysteries of the universe. Currently living and working in New York City’s East Village, Tracy’s work continues to evolve, influenced by the city’s vibrant energy and its contrasts of chaos and contemplation. The urban landscape serves as a mirror to her own internal landscape—both a reflection of the complexities of modern life and an opportunity to explore the deep, often paradoxical nature of existence. Her art speaks to the delicate balance between the external and the internal, between the material world and the spiritual realms.