Kirsten Abrahamson

Kirsten Abrahamson was born in Cleveland, Ohio, but she lived and practiced in Alberta for over twenty years before relocating to Kitchener, Ontario where she teaches Visual Arts at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. While in Alberta, she earned diplomas in ceramics and glassblowing from the Alberta College of Art and Design (ACAD) in Calgary (1985) and later a BFA (ceramics, 1987) and an MFA (sculpture, 1990) from the University of Calgary. Active in the art community, and especially in art education, Abrahamson has sat on advisory boards and taught youth and adults in both public and academic settings, including at ACAD and through the extension department of the University of Calgary. She also served as the artist in residence at Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School in Okotoks, Alberta. In 2002, she was recognized with the Distinguished Alumni Award of Excellence as part of ACAD’s 75th anniversary celebrations.

Abrahamson creates figurative ceramic and mixed-media sculpture. She describes her work as autobiographical and journalistic, with influences from history, symbols, icons, customs and traditions, and cultural lore. She explores how these influences intersect with her own personal experiences in establishing a multicultural identity. Her work is held in several public collections and has shown extensively in Alberta since 1982. She has participated in solo and group exhibitions across the province, in Canada, and around the world.

Compiled 2014