Kirsten Abrahamson facts for kids
Kirsten Lillian Abrahamson (born June 16, 1960) is a Canadian artist and teacher. She is famous for her unique ceramic art and sculptures made from different materials.
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Early Life and Art School
Kirsten Abrahamson was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1960. She moved to Canada with her family when she was in high school and later became a Canadian citizen.
Kirsten went to the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, Alberta. There, she learned about ceramics (making art from clay) and glassblowing. She also studied at the University of Calgary, where she earned two degrees in art. She even spent time as an artist-in-residence at these schools, which means she was given a place to work and create art.
Her Art and What It Means
Kirsten Abrahamson is known for her sculptures that often look like people or figures. She uses both clay and other materials to create her art. Her work often tells stories about her own life and experiences, almost like a journal. She gets ideas from history, symbols, and different cultures.
Kirsten cares about the environment. She often uses recycled materials in her art. This shows how important it is to reuse things and protect our planet. Her sculptures often show a mix of different cultural ideas.
She also worked on a project called the Redwork project. This project helped her explore her family history and how art can help with emotional healing. Her art often connects personal feelings with bigger ideas about society.
Teaching Art to Others
Kirsten Abrahamson is also a very important art teacher. She has taught at many universities and colleges, including the University of Calgary and the University of Waterloo.
Currently, she teaches Colour Theory and Painting at Sheridan College in Ontario. She also helps lead the Sheridan Art Hives initiative. This project helps people in the community be creative, especially by using recycled materials. It shows how art can help people feel good and also help the environment.
Famous Artworks
In 1993, Kirsten visited Mexico and experienced the Day of the Dead festival. This trip inspired her and a friend to create two special art shows called Revival and Days of the Dead. These shows explored the symbols and meaning of the festival.
Kirsten has a deep understanding of ceramic art traditions. Her most famous work is Diary of a River. This artwork has been studied by art experts.
One expert, Carol Podedworny, said that Kirsten's work is "bold, satirical and colourful." She noted that Kirsten uses special clay and glazes to make large, bright sculptures that tell personal stories.
Another art writer, Virginia Eichorn, also wrote about Diary of a River. She said that Kirsten uses her own life experiences to create her ceramic art. This important artwork was bought by the Alberta Foundation for the Arts for their permanent collection. Many of her other works are also part of this collection.
Kirsten's art is featured in several books about ceramics. Her glazing techniques have even been used as examples in books by famous potter Robin Hopper. Her work was also promoted by the Jonathon Bancroft-Snell Gallery in a magazine called Ceramics Monthly.
Her art was shown in 5 out of 10 National Biennial of Ceramics exhibitions. At the 10th exhibition, she won the "Prix Du Public," which means "People's Choice Award."
Awards and Special Recognition
Kirsten Abrahamson has received many awards and grants for her art.
- In 2002, she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Alberta College of Art and Design.
- Her work was displayed at the Nickle Arts Museum in 2016 to celebrate 50 years of art at the University of Calgary.
- She won the "Prix du Public" at the 10th National Biennial of Ceramics in Quebec in 2002.
- In 1992, she won 2nd Prize in an exhibition called Fit for a King at the Gardiner Museum in Toronto.
Exhibitions and Public Art Collections
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Kirsten's art has been shown in many places across Canada and around the world. Her work is part of several public art collections, meaning it's owned by museums or galleries for everyone to see.
- The Burlington Art Centre, Ontario
- The Banff Centre for the Arts, Alberta
- The Nickle Arts Museum at the University of Calgary, Alberta
- The Claridge Collection, Montreal, Quebec
- The Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Edmonton, Alberta
- Alberta College of Art + Design Permanent Collection, Calgary, Alberta
- The City of Calgary Civic Art Collection, Calgary, Alberta
Her art has also been shown in international exhibitions in the United States (like San Diego, Minneapolis, and New York City), Taiwan, and the Czech Republic.
Solo Art Shows
Kirsten has had many solo exhibitions, which are shows where only her art is displayed.
- Queue at the Jonathon Bancroft Snell Gallery in October 2015.
- Her big artwork Diary: of a River was first shown in Calgary. Then it traveled to museums in London, Ontario, and Waterloo, Ontario, from 2004 to 2005.
- The Feature exhibition at the Harbinger Gallery in Waterloo in 2002.
- The Revival exhibition at the Muttart Gallery (now the Art Gallery of Calgary) in 1994.
- Her Personal Mythologies exhibition at The Nickle Arts Museum of the University of Calgary in 1990.
- The Personal Mythologies of Dee Dee Alteridem at the University of Calgary Little Gallery in 1990.
- Accidental Solo at the Canadian Art Gallery of Calgary in 1989.
- I Love A Parade presented by the Muttart Gallery.
Personal Life
Kirsten Abrahamson lives in Ontario, Canada, with her family. She has two children, a daughter born in 1995 and a son born in 1996. She loves animals, especially cats, and supports organizations like Kitchener Stray Cat Rescue.
Community Work
Kirsten is very involved in community projects. She works with students and local people at the Art Hives at Sheridan College. She believes that being creative can help people feel better. She also loves using recycled materials in her projects, which helps both people and the environment.
See also
List of Canadian artists
