As a first-generation Filipinx artist born and raised in Los Angeles, my work explores the interplay between culture, identity, through the presence of artificial food, and my landscape. My fascination with junk food, iconic products from the islands, plastic items from dollar stores//thrift stores, in my environment—serves as both a metaphor and a medium for exploring themes of assimilation and belonging.

I invite viewers to engage in a dialogue about the experiences that shape our identities. Each image captures not just the vibrant colors and textures of these artificial, plastic, nostalgic items, but also the deeper narratives that connect us across diverse backgrounds before existing in LA.

My work emphasizes the commonality of human experience, bringing people together and sparking conversations about memory and identity.

• ashley jose-isip