SC State graduating art student finds creative energy in London’s studios and streets
Ashley Greene studied abroad in January via the SC State Office of Global Engagement.
The South Carolina State University senior traveled to England as part of a study abroad program through the university’s Office of Global Engagement. For Greene, a studio arts major focused on ceramics and sculpture, the experience offered a rare blend of formal study and cultural immersion.
“London offered a rich tapestry of experiences — from its vibrant music scene and world-class art museums to intimate galleries, lively pubs, and diverse cuisine,” said Greene, who is from Waynesboro, Georgia.
She studied at the University of the Arts London, where her creativity thrived in a collaborative environment filled with artists from around the world.
“The environment was a perfect blend of curiosity, creativity and collaboration,” she said. “Being surrounded by a community of talented peers and guided by supportive, cooperative and innovative teachers fostered my artistic development in ways I never imagined.”
Greene didn’t come to SC State planning to be a ceramic artist. Her sights were set on drama at first, but she decided to focus on digital media with dreams of working in stop-motion animation.
But a required class and a growing passion for clay transformed her career path.
“I had to take a ceramics class, and it was just me and another student in there,” she said. “I just kind of fell in love with it.”
Greene continued with more ceramics courses and eventually transitioned from digital media to art education. That, she said, was a practical move to ensure job prospects, but her growing love for sculpture led her in a new direction.
“I felt like I could teach with my ceramics and sculpture experience,” Greene said. “But if I wanted to really focus on my work and be serious about it, I needed to change my major again.”
She switched to studio art with a focus on ceramics and sculpture.
The stay in London was Greene’s second immersive excursion in the arts thanks to SC State. In summer 2024, she worked at the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina for a studio assistantship with Alexander Thierry, an SC State associate professor in the Department of Visual and Performing Arts. Thierry taught the Penland workshop in screen printing and soda kiln firing and selected Greene to assist since she had previously fired SC State’s soda kiln with him.
“That just made me want to really focus on my work, get better,” she said. “I just feel a joy and passion for ceramics and sculpture.”
Greene will graduate this Friday and already has a job lined up at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia. Looking ahead, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in art practice by spring 2026, with the goal of eventually earning a doctorate.
“I want to teach at a university, maybe work at a museum,” she said. “And I still want to push my own art and see what I can do.”
For Greene, teaching art isn’t just about painting and drawing — it’s about giving kids more options.
“A lot of kids like clay,” she said. “I don’t want them to think art is just painting or sketching. Pottery is kind of a lost art.”
Greene had long envisioned studying abroad and began planning more than a year in advance. With guidance from Dominique Rolle, SC State’s international education coordinator, she explored several destinations before choosing London.
Getting around the city on the Tube, navigating unfamiliar neighborhoods and absorbing London’s layered history became part of the learning process. But it was the access to modern art spaces, creative peers, and renowned instructors that left the biggest impression.
“It has deepened my passion for the creative arts and inspired me to pursue further opportunities to study abroad, particularly in graduate school,” Greene said.
The Office of Global Engagement supports students like Greene by offering virtual sessions, classroom visits and connections to international study providers. Rolle said she’s always looking to help students step beyond their comfort zones.
“Immersing oneself in another culture is truly transformative,” Rolle said.
Office director Dr. Learie Luke wants at least half of SC State students to travel abroad before graduation. For those who don’t, the office brings global experiences to campus through language classes, international music and food festivals, and cultural workshops.
For more information about study abroad or campus-based global experiences, contact Dr. Luke at lluke@scsu.edu or Dominique Rolle at drolle1@scsu.edu. Visit the Office of Global Engagement’s web page at www.scsu.edu/oinsep.
SC State will conduct Spring Commencement on Friday, May 9, beginning at 10 a.m. in Oliver C. Dawson Stadium.