AMDG

A Brazilian Artist Based in Charleston, SC

“All my work comes to me intuitively, unfolding before me. All the elements of atmosphere play a part in the creation of each piece - the weather, my mood, the news, my family, my community. Each piece is a meditation, an exploration, a journey. It starts when I feel a need to paint, but it ends when the piece lets me know it’s finished. I often find figures, numbers, objects that are in the finished work that I never intended while painting, but reveal themselves as the paint dries, as the painting hangs on the wall or leans in the studio. This relationship between mediation and revelation is where the true art exists for me - the conversation between my hands and my soul. My work is an offering to my audience to experience the same. See what you see, take away what you take away. The abstract is a window to the soul; In the moment you are contemplating the piece, you are as much a part of the work as I am.” - Angela Maria Das Graças

Angela AMDG Askeland was born and raised in the small town of Araguari, Brazil, where she spent her childhood playing with siblings, cousins, and neighbors. Their big backyard became a stage for imagination—hosting homemade theatrical shows where Angela took on the role of scriptwriter and set painter. It was in those early creative moments that her love for painting first took root.

Creativity and craftsmanship were part of Angela’s upbringing. Her grandmother, who grew her own cotton, taught Angela how to spin it by hand and transform it into fiber for creating functional items from start to finish. This early exposure to the full lifecycle of handmade work instilled a deep appreciation for slow, intentional artistry. Her mother was also an artist and embroiderer, and while she didn’t formally teach Angela, Angela learned by watching—picking up the delicate skill of embroidery simply by observing her mother’s hands at work. Over time, Angela began experimenting with crochet and upcycling clothes—adding handmade touches and giving old garments new life.

After many years in the workforce, Angela began to feel the absence of creative expression in her life. Longing to reconnect with her artistic side, she enrolled in painting classes—and hasn't looked back. For the past 15 years, painting has been her way of both expressing herself and better understanding who she is.

Angela is especially drawn to abstract art, where she allows her thoughts and emotions to flow freely through the brush. Her hope is to create pieces that speak to people on a deeper level—offering an emotional experience that resonates beyond the canvas.

Whether through paint, yarn, or fabric, Angela’s creative journey is rooted in curiosity, connection, and a love of transforming the ordinary into something meaningful.