Bio
Abijanac is a mixed-media artist whose work is focused on self-discovery and personal growth. Through experimentation and risk-taking, she aims to break creative boundaries regardless of the medium she uses, whether it's painting, sculpture, or fiber. Her works have been exhibited nationally and internationally, and some of her selected works are a part of the Mark Rothko Collection in Latvia. Her achievements include winning the People's Choice Award at FiberArt International 2013 and first place in Fiber/Textiles at the 68th Annual Ohio Exhibition 2012. She is also a recipient of the Capelli d'Angeli Foundation 2013 Artist Grants for her work addressing cancer. Abijanac earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fine Arts from CCAD in 1992 and went on to complete a Master of Fine Arts from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1994. 
In my work, I merge various elements of painting and drawing with embroidery, crafting a rich visual palimpsest where my past approaches and current abstractions can coexist harmoniously. Techniques and motifs from my earlier artistic practices resurface in innovative, layered forms, with embroidery adding significant tactile depth and striking dimension to my abstract compositions. Through this layering process, I explore how the concepts of time and memory are intricately embedded in the materials themselves, with each stitch and brushstroke serving as a meaningful marker of my evolving experiences. The materials I use hold fragments of past gestures and deliberate decisions, which are recontextualized to resonate with the present moment. By weaving these memories into new abstractions, my past and present artistic languages converge and interplay, continually shaping and redefining one another in a dynamic dialogue.
Current & Upcoming Exhibitions

2025

  • Constellation, Beeler Gallery, Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, Ohio. 
2024
  • Tracing Echoes, Project Room, Beeler Gallery, Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus Ohio.
Artist Statement

2024

  • Shot Through With A Bolt of Blue

    October 2024

    14.75 × 12.5”

    Linen, acrylic, and embroidery wool

  • Confusion Sprung Up From Devotion, 20 x 14"

    June 2024

    20 × 14”

    Linen, acrylic, and embroidery wool

  • I Prefer Dreams to Reality

    June 2024

    14 × 124”

    Linen, acrylic, and embroidery wool

  • Welcome To The Peepshow

    September 2024

    21 × 17”

    Acrylic, vinyl, cut paper, graphite, thread, and silver foil transfer

  • I Am The Peepshow

    September 2024

    21 × 17”

    Acrylic, vinyl, cut paper, graphite, thread, and silver foil transfer

  • Visual Ammunition

    September 2024

    14 × 18”

    Strathmore mixed media paper, graphite, Gouache, seed beads, silver transfer foil, and thread

  • It's A Thin Line

    February 2024

    14 × 18”

    Strathmore mixed media paper, graphite, and marker

  • I See Things That Remind Me

    February 2024

    14 × 18”

    Strathmore mixed media paper, graphite, marker, collage, and color pencil

  • The Holy Smokes Are Coming

    February 2024

    14 × 18”

    Strathmore mixed media paper, graphite, color pencil, and marker

  • I Like Bananas Because They Have No Bones

    March 2024

    35 × 30”

    Birch panel, Strathmore watercolor paper, acrylic, silver leaf, graphite, vinyl, highlighter marker, modeling paste, charcoal pencil,

  • Nothing Left to Hold You Here

    March 2024

    35 × 30”

    Birch panel, color pencil, collage, and vinyl

Ideation

EXHIBITION RECORD	
MUSEUM 
2022     Cartas de Cuba – Letters from Ohio, Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus, OH.
2021	    The Many Faces of Paper, Ohio Crafts Museum, Columbus, OH. Curated: Char Norman
2020	    10th Trennale Internationale du Papier, Musée de Charmey, Switzerland.  Invitational
2017	    9th Trennale Internationale du Papier, Musée de Charmey, Switzerland.  Invitational
2014	    8th Trennale Internationale du Papier, Musée de Charmey, Switzerland. Invitational
2013	    Fiberart International 2013, San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, San Jose,  CA.  Jurors: Kai Chan, Paulina Ortiz, and Joyce J. Scott
2012	    68th Annual Ohio Exhibition, Zanesville Museum of Art, Zanesville. OH.
2009	   College of Art & Design Faculty Exhibition, Zanesville Museum of Art, Zanesville, Ohio.
1993	   Cranbrook Art Museum; Enforced Proximity, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
INTERNATIONAL GROUP EXHIBITIONS	
2022	    Letters, (to be hosted in Havana, Matanzas and Cienfuegos)
2019	    ConnectArt in Cuba, Galeria-Taller Lolo, Matanzas, Cuba
2015	    Mark Rothko Art Center, II International Textile Symposium: Fortress Man, Daugavpils, Latvia.
2011 	    Silver, IAPMA, Victoria, Australia.
      Hanji Festival, IAPMA, The Hanji Development Institute, Republic of South Korea
SOLO EXHIBITIONS	
2020	    Just as Life Itself, Wehrle Art Gallery, Ohio Dominican University, Columbus, Ohio.
2019	    Reflect, Refocus, Renew, The James Art Gallery, OSU, Columbus,  Ohio. Curated by Michelle Brandt
2012      Over Time, Wehrle Art Gallery, Ohio Dominican University, Columbus, Ohio.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS	
2025     Constellation, Beeler Gallery, Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, Ohio.
2024	    Tracing Echoes, The Project Room, Beeler Gallery, Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, Ohio.
	           Collective Mending, Brandt-Robert’s Gallery, Columbus, Ohio.
2023.    Constellation, Beeler Gallery, Columbus College of Art & Design, Columbus, Ohio.
2021      Fort Hayes Art Alumni Inspired Reunion Take 2, The Shot Tower Gallery, Fort Hayes High School, Columbus, Ohio.
      Maskaraed for Cancer Research, Wild Goose Creative Art Gallery, Columbus, Ohio.
                   The Secret Lives of Color, Brandt-Roberts Gallery, Short North Arts District, Columbus, Ohio.
		    Resisting the Hard Edge, Brandt-Roberts Gallery, Short North Arts District, Columbus, Ohio.
2020	    Brandt-Roberts Galleries 10-year Anniversary Exhibition, Brandt-Roberts Gallery, Short North Arts District, Columbus, Ohio
      2 + 3 x 18: Diptychs and Triptychs by 18 Contemporary Artists, Lancaster Decorative Arts Center Lancaster, Ohio.
     Fort Hayes Art Alumni Inspired Reunion 2, Shot Tower Gallery, Columbus, Ohio. 
2019	   Cuba in Columbus, Brandt-Roberts Gallery, Short North Arts District, Columbus, Ohio.
     Permutations, Brandt-Roberts Gallery, Short North Arts District, Columbus, Ohio.
2018	  Duo Trio, Riffe Gallery, Columbus, Ohio.
	          Hypotheses: Art Inspired by the Many Worlds of Science, Cultural Arts Center, Columbus, Ohio.
2017	  Cloth Paper Cuts, Claypool-Young Gallery, Morehead State University, Morehead, Kentucky.
    Multiverse, Radial Gallery, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio.
2016	  Call Response, Acock Gallery, CCAD, Columbus, Ohio.
    Transitions, Fort Hayes Shot Tower Gallery, Columbus, Ohio.	
2014	  Annual Thumb Box Exhibition, Ohio Art League, RAW Gallery, Columbus, Ohio.
    With and Without: Challenges, The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center, Covington, Kentucky. Curator: Mary Heider
    Remnants of Casualties, Concourse Gallery, UpperArlington, Ohio.
    Happy Together, Cultural Arts Center, Columbus, Ohio. Curator: Adam Brouillette
	         Made with Paper, Art Access, Bexley, Ohio.
   SYSTEMATIC: An International Competitive Exhibit of Works By or About Systems, Manifest Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio.
2013	 Annual Thumb Box Exhibition, Ohio Art League, OAL Gallery, Columbus, Ohio.
                Cut & Torn – Paperscapes, Cultural Arts Center, Columbus, Ohio. Curator:  Barb Vogel
                One Night, OAL, Strongwater, Columbus, Ohio.
                Ohio Art League Juried Fall Exhibition, Fort Hayes Shot Tower Gallery, Columbus, Ohio. Curator:  Melissa Vogley-Woods
		 Trans – Fiber & Paper, Concourse Gallery, UpperArlington, Ohio. Curator:  Char Norman & Elena Osterwalder
   Fiberart International 2013, Pittsburgh Fiber Guild, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Jurors: Kai Chan, Paulina Ortiz, and Joyce J. Scott
2012    The Ohio Art League, Fall Juried Exhibition, Cultural Arts Center, Columbus, Ohio. Juror: Annegreth Nill
    New Works, Art Access, Bexley, Ohio
	          Walk on White, The Studios of Key West, Key West, Florida.
	          ARTslanT, 1st 2012 Showcase, Homepage Spotlight Gallery ARTslanT, Worldwide.
	          Looking Forward, Decorative Arts Center of Ohio, Lancaster, Ohio. Curator:  Michael Goodson, Director of Exhibitions at CCAD.
2011      Governor’s Office, Columbus, Ohio.
    Reaction/Response, Cultural Arts Center, Columbus, Ohio.
    Art At The X, Xavier University Art Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio.  Juror:  Deborah Emont Scott, Director/CEO of the Taft Museum.
	          Something Else, City Art Center, Delaware, Ohio.
	          Pattern Play, The Living Arts and Science Center’s, Gloria Singletary Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky.	
	          Paper Moon II: Women in Columbus and the Art of Paper, Wehrle Art Gallery, Ohio Dominican University, Columbus, Ohio.
	          Courage Unmasked for Joan’s Fund 
    The Courage Unmasked Gala, Columbus, Ohio.
    Delaware County Cultural Arts Center, Delaware, Ohio.
    Chidlaw Gallery, Art Academy of Cincinnati, Ohio.
    Grandview Heights Public Library, Marble Cliff Arts Council, Grandview, Ohio.
    Chushin Center, Upper Arlington, Ohio.
    Worthington-Kilbourne High School, Worthington, Ohio.
    The Davis Group, Columbus, Ohio.
    The Old School Gallery, Columbus, Ohio.
    Ohio Statehouse, Columbus, Ohio.
    Columbus Arts Ball, The Bluestone, Columbus, Ohio.
2010     2010 Faculty Biennial Exhibition, Canzani Center Gallery, Columbus, Ohio.
     Art At The X, Xavier University Art Gallery, Cincinnati, Ohio.
     It’s All New, Art Access, Bexley, Ohio.
     Material Matters, Art Access, Bexley, Ohio.
2008	    2008 Faculty Biennial Exhibition, Canzani Center Gallery, Columbus, Ohio.
      Mahan Gallery, Inside The Artist Studio, Columbus, Ohio.
2007	    Roy G Biv Gallery’s Annual Members’ Small Work Exhibition, Columbus, Ohio.
      Agora III, Junctionview Studios, Grandview, Ohio.
      Fort Hayes Alumni Show, Fort Hayes Shot Tower Gallery, Columbus, Ohio.
2006	    Agora II, Junctionview Studios, Grandview, Ohio.
2006     Faculty Biennial Exhibition, Canzani Center Gallery, Columbus, Ohio.
2004	    2004 Faculty Biennial Exhibition, Canzani Center Gallery, Columbus, Ohio.
1996     ACME Art Gallery; Bathroom Installation, Columbus, Ohio.
    Columbus College of Art & Design, Alumni Show, Canzani Center, Gallery, Columbus, Ohio.
1995	  Wearly Studio Gallery; Embody, Royal Oak, Michigan.
    Matrix Gallery; Active Female, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
    Union League Club; Cranbrook Academy of Art; Painting:  1990-95, New York City.
   Three Rivers Art Festival; Excellence Revisited:  Award Winner 1990-94, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1994	  Michigan Fine Arts Competition, Birmingham, Michigan.
   Three Rivers Art Festival, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
1992	  Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition, James M. Cox Fine Arts Center, Columbus, Ohio.
CV