Ashley Angstadt holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Penn State University, with eight years of experience in ceramics and two years of teaching at the collegiate level. In her ceramic practice, she focuses on creating curvaceous, smooth, and timeless forms that reflect a refined aesthetic sensibility. Her recent body of work, That’s So Girl, integrates atmospheric firing methods, including pit, salt, soda, and wood firing. Over the past year, Ashley participated in a juried group exhibition, where she was awarded a scholarship, culminating in a solo exhibition that marked the conclusion of her undergraduate studies.

Ashley’s solo exhibition featured five wheel-thrown lamps that evoke the elegant curvature of the female form. Through this work, she aims to initiate a dialogue about the challenges women face while growing up and the societal expectations imposed upon them. The use of lamps as a metaphor is intentional; Ashley views them as objects that quietly serve their function—illuminating a space—without receiving anything in return. In this way, the lamps symbolize the often-unseen emotional labor and selflessness expected of women in traditional gender roles.