Artist Statement
Abi (based in London, born in 1993) is a representational painter influenced by abstract expressionist, working in mainly oils and high gloss paint. The foundation for her work starts at the time of her birth, when her father left the family, leaving her mother in a state of mental decline. With no one to take Abi in, she was put into foster care. Through painting, Abi seeks to unravel the past, and come to terms with trauma, neglect and abuse, whilst expressing the complex way in which her experiences shaped her character, particularly her sexuality. By allowing the shapes and colours on the canvas to dictate the direction of the work, Abi is able to access the unconscious part of her mind, revealing images from her early years.