Biography

Abigail (Abby) Birhanu is an artist and art teacher currently living in St. Louis, Missouri.  She moved to the United States at the age of nine from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  She  received a BFA in Art Education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 2006 and earned a master's degree from Webster University in Education Psychology in 2014. 



Abby has taught at various educational institutions such as the Center of Creative Arts (COCA), the Potter’s Workshop, Charters School (in Sunningdale, UK), and is currently teaching at St. Charles High School in the City of St. Charles School District (CSCSD).  She has displayed work in a range of venues around St. Louis such as Urban Breath Studio, Third Floor Gallery, Gallery Visio, Gallery 210, The Urban League, Union Station, COCA Gallery, Twilight Gallery, Ocean’s Gallery, Belas Artes, Old North Gallery, and others. 

She received the award for Grand Center’s emerging artist in St. Louis for 2007, was named a Trailblazer in 2008 by the University of Missiouri-St. Louis, recognized as District Teacher of the Year for CSCSD for the 2009-2010 school year, received an Emerson Excellence in Teaching Award in 2010, and participated in a Fulbright exchange as a part of the Fulbright Teachers Exchange Program 2011-2012 as an exchange teacher to the United Kingdom.

 

Abby’s work primarily explores themes of power especially in regard to women. Most of the women featured in her artwork while being powerful are using such power for the purpose of good whether it is to pass on wisdom, create a legacy, or contribute to society through other positive means. Her figures are based on superheroes both fantastical and real (like her mother) that she grew up admiring. Especially seeing women in positions of power was something that was inspirational for the artist.  Her work tries to honor those who have traditionally been taught to have little power or influence. 

Today, Abby continues to make art while teaching. She has prospects of sharing her work with her native country and getting involved in programs in which the arts are used as an enrichment tool to develop fruitful communities both in the United States and abroad.