George Lawrence Abernethy Library

Charlotte native, Nellie Ashford is a self-proclaimed folk artist whose work expresses cultural identity, shared community values and aesthetics. Inspired by the life that surrounds her and memories of her past, Ashford’s work incorporates a mix of materials that often reflect real-life experiences and depicts families, children, dancers and musicians with vibrant detail and emotion. Each work that she creates has a story to tell. Vintage fabrics cloth images of people who reflect varying ethnic, religious, occupational, age and gender who identities. They identify and complement each other and their world. Nellie Ashford is an untold jewel, and it is through her art that she creates a world of historical expression – a visual, realistic imagery that reflects a time gone by, allowing the viewer to reflect and understand the Charlotte that once was – her Charlotte.