ASHAAUNG HELMSTETTER ON CULTIVATING HER OWN CORNER IN THE CENTRAL DISTRICT

by Guest Writer, Brihana Juá

“Who knew putting a bunch of colors on a page was radical?” AshaAung laughed. As the 25-year-old artist opened up about her creative journey, I was instantly transported into her world. Even through a screen, it felt as if I was right there with Asha, talking to a long-lost friend. Mesmerized by the bold mural covering the walls of her Central District home, my curiosity deepened. How did AshaAung find art?

AshaAung Helmstetter. Credit Toya Harris.

Well, to put it simply, art found her. Reminiscing on her childhood, AshaAung Helmstetter shared how creativity was embedded in her life. Her neighborhood, rich with communal spaces and welcoming local coffee shops, played a crucial role in her artistic development. One place in particular, Tougo Coffee, became a second home. The owner, Brian, would leave magazines for her after school and set up a fresh roll of paper for her to draw on. “I was seven years old, maybe eight, and he would pick out pictures in magazines for me and say, "Okay, go.” That small act of kindness cultivated her curiosity and playfulness with art.

Her early years were also shaped by her family’s deep connection to the arts and their unique migration experience. Asha’s mother was part of the first Burmese family to take residence in southern Africa, marking a distinct journey from the rest of their relatives. She later moved to the U.S. for college, where she met Asha's father, a Black and mixed-race man with German ancestry. Her parents owned a Central District coffee shop, formerly known as Cafe Vega, which was a gathering space and safe haven. Her childhood home was a constantly evolving canvas covered in paint spills and fabrics. “We were roller-skating in the living room, painting on the walls, cutting off Barbie's hair and painting them green,” she recalled with a laugh. “There was no version of that child growing up in that environment that was going to be something else because those things that raised me, those were my strengths.”

AshaAung Helmstetter at work on In My Pride I Am Goddess, taken at City of Light Gallery. Courtesy of the artist.

When a local craft shop closed down, they gave away bags of yarn, which became a main source of joy and playtime for Asha. She learned how to weave and finger-knit, skills that would later influence her mixed-media art. But one of the most defining moments came when her parents welcomed an artist, Charles Moss, into their home for a full-time residency. “Our living room became his art studio,” Asha recalled. “It was like a full-time artist residency in our house.” Charles and her father hosted gallery shows, turning their home into what became known as Seattle Art House. Asha found herself immersed in an artistic world, constantly surrounded by painters, sculptors, and creatives who encouraged her to explore.

“We were roller-skating in the living room, painting on the walls, cutting off Barbie's hair and painting them green,” she recalled with a laugh. “There was no version of that child growing up in that environment that was going to be something else because those things that raised me, those were my strengths.”

Asha’s journey into adulthood only deepened her relationship to art. By 17, she made the decision to pursue art as a career while attending Seattle Central College. Struggling with health issues that left her in pain and frequently missing school, she realized that art was something she could rely on. “It was a way of learning and connecting with the world that didn’t always require other people to teach me,” she said. Our conversation became introspective as we talked about the value of isolation and how it can allow us as artists to become more connected to our work.

Art became more than just a passion; it became a means of survival. “I knew that, especially as a Black and Brown girl from Seattle with health issues, I needed to build a life that worked for me,” she explained. Being a self-taught artist, Asha was constantly evolving within her art and on her journey as a queer woman of color. As her career has grown, so has her understanding of the ways her intersecting identities influence her work. Through her work, she actively explores themes of Black and Asian identity, queerness, community, and belonging.

Her most recent exhibition, Recognition, Love, and Healing, was held at the Northwest African American Museum. The exhibit showcased a series of vibrant and abstract paintings reflecting the beauty, resilience, and liberation of Black Americans through her own lens. “With my paintings, I really want to be able to have a conversation with viewers. I want people to sort of again feel more seen and less lonely.”, Asha shared. In addition to her own artistic practice, Asha is deeply involved in community-centered projects. With a focus on accessibility and self-expression, AshaAung works across generations to offer a variety of art workshops for all ages and skill levels. She is currently working on finding ways to spread her knowledge, as she builds art workshops for the community, and pours into her personal passion projects.

AshaAung Helmstetter, In My Pride I Am Goddess, 2023. Courtesy of the artist.

With a career that continues to evolve, Asha is committed to her art and community. “I love getting people to build art together and I love helping teach people how to love themselves more through art because we learn how to love each other better when we are loving ourselves,” she said. Whether it’s through her paintings, textile work, installations, or activism, AshaAung Helmstetter is doing just that—cultivating her own creative corner in the Central District, one brushstroke at a time.

“I built the corner for myself. I'm in this difficult situation because I decided it needed to look like that...someone might say, well, there's an easier way to do that. You could just buy that, and I'm like, I could. You're right. I could not make art.” AshaAung laughed. Every artist has a choice. We don’t choose this path because it’s easy. We choose this path because it is a part of our being.

Asha is currently working on a year-two project with the Wing Luke Museum, focusing on a river installation that shares community stories. The project will include intergenerational workshops with ICHS Legacy House, offering participants an opportunity to build and contribute to a collaborative art installation. Additional workshops will be held at the Northwest African American Museum, including activities like abstract art in Black history, Earth Day nature sculptures, and self-reflection self-portraits."I’m really excited to bring everyone in and create moments that foster community. I’m also ready to start painting a new series for myself. There’s always something new coming down the pipeline!”

You can learn more about Asha and her upcoming events by visiting her website, www.artsyasha.com, and be sure to follow her on Instagram @artsyasha

ARTIST BIO

AshaAung Helmstetter is a contemporary oil painter and mixed media artist born and raised in Seattle's Central District, where she continues to live and work. Her art focuses on themes of community connection and personal liberation, which she also explores through teaching and active participation in community spaces.

Her paintings are known for their imaginative qualities and reflect her perseverance and authenticity. In 2021, Helmstetter began a series inspired by historical black-and-white portraits of Black Americans, aiming to honor and connect with her heritage. This work led to her exhibition, Recognition, Love, and Healing, which opened at the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM) on January 20, 2025, and runs through May 23, 2025. The exhibition serves both educational and healing purposes, deepening her connection with her Black American identity.

Beyond her visual art, Helmstetter is also a performing artist known as Ms. Kitschy Kupid in the burlesque and go-go dancing scenes. Her multifaceted artistic endeavors underscore her commitment to self-expression and community engagement.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brihana Juá is a self-taught musician and mentor whose journey through grief, loss, and self-discovery shapes the heart of her art. Raised in a Caribbean household in Florida, music was both a refuge and a constant companion. From singing herself to sleep as a child to the first time hearing Erik B & Rakim at age eight, music ignited a fire in her that would fuel her artistic path.

After losing her best friend Justin to gun violence at the age of 14, Juá's relationship with music deepened, transforming it into a tool for healing and a means to mentor others. Her debut song, Keep Moving, became both a tribute to Justin and a message of resilience that resonated deeply with those facing similar struggles.

Since then, she has dedicated herself to growth both as an artist and a mentor. Her early experiences—selling her first mixtape in eighth grade and performing at the ATL Improv at a kids' comedy show hosted by Cole Brown—laid the foundation for her continued exploration of music and self-expression. She has honed her craft through programs like GZ Radio, and The Residency, where she sharpened her skills and found support within the vibrant Seattle arts community.

Today, Juá is driven to share her light through music, using her art to empower others while staying true to her mission of growth, mentorship, and resilience.