ASHLEY SOLIMAN is a costume designer and visual artist based in New York City.

Drawing upon a variety of sources to create expressive imagery and objects, her creative practices are anchored by the language of color and the physical manifestation of inner worlds. She is propelled by the collaborative nature of theater and the desire to create garments that resonate with both performer and audience. Ashley’s keen eye, versatile skills, and curiosity guide her through the distinct challenges that each theatrical project brings, resulting in a fresh approach for tales new and old. As a character driven designer, her costumes have been praised for their rewarding use of color, as well as for being“wacky”, “masterful”, and “rich in detail”.

Her designs have been seen at Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, NYU Steinhardt, The Alliance, Fort Worth Opera, and featured in an episode of web series In Character. Selected world premieres include Double Helix (upcoming, BayStreet Theater), REDEEMED & Your Name Means Dream (upcoming, CATF), Sweet Potato Kicks The Sun (Santa Fe Opera), Protest (Shuga Pie Supreme),and Astronaut Love Show (Leschen & Sauter.) She was awarded “Best Costumes” for her work on Mind The Art Entertainment’s Fatty Fatty No Friends (NYC Fringe Festival) and Whiskey Pants (Frigid Fest), with the former receiving a NYITA “Best Costumes” nomination during a secondary run. Ashley had the pleasure of assisting costume designer Jessica Jahn on the debut of Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen’s Coal Country at The Public Theater, which opened successfully before the pandemic cut its run short.

In addition to designing, Ashley spent four formative years as a painter and artisan at Jeff Fender Studio, where she discovered that she could apply her fine arts background to costume crafts. Under Jeff’s tutelage, she learned how to interpret and actualize concepts brought in by designers such as Gregg Barnes, Gregory Gale, Paul Tazewell, Suzy Benzinger, Sandy Powell, and Ann Roth. Ashley became versed in aging, distressing, embellishing, and fabric painting for projects appearing on Broadway and in opera, dance, film, and television (notably the erstwhile Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show.)

Born and raised in Chino Hills, California, Ashley holds a BFA in Fine Arts & Printmaking from the School of Visual Arts.

‍