About Abigail Sobotka-Briner
abyz.mal (abigail sobotka/briner, she/they) is a community organizer, artist, and spatial strategist with a passion for shifting our collective perspective to prioritize care and equity. They hold a Master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Southern California and a BA in architectural studies and studio arts from the University of Pittsburgh. Abigail is a founding member of Rising Tide Collective, a queer and trans-led artist collective that aims to disrupt the status quo of creative spaces through the sharing of resources, audiences, skills, and experiences in the tri-state area. Aby is influenced by their Polish American identity and aspects of traditional Polish art can be seen in the bright colors, bold shapes, and lively patterns that repeat across her paintings. She draws inspiration from both the urban and natural environment and the interactions that happen in and between them, exploring the relationship between memories and identity, making as a process of healing, and the juxtaposition between rigid form and the human figure. Aby layers colors, patterns, and textures in their work to convey the essence of intangible feelings and stories through symbolism and abstraction. Their practice is grounded in compassion, belonging, and intention, and they believe that creativity and connection are essential in breaking down biases, achieving collective liberation, and bringing individuals and communities closer together. Aby has contributed to projects and exhibitions in cities around the world including Los Angeles, Black Rock City, Pittsburgh, New York, Philadelphia, New Delhi, Jodhpur, Odisha, and Mumbai. Abigail currently lives in North Philadelphia with her plants and cat, Charlie.
SUMMARY OF SKILLS
Multi-media artist specializing inl arge-scale paintings Skilled in oils,acrylics,print-making,collage,textiles,carpentry,site-specific installations, and more.
VOLUNTEERING+PROJECTS
Rising Tide Collective: Organizer + Project manager
Youth Volunteer Corps + Precious Plastic Philly
Liquid Forest (With Richard Wilks)
EDUCATION
University of Southern California|Executive Master of Urban Planning December 2021
UniversityofPittsburgh|ArchitecturalStudies,StudioArts,CumLaudeApril2017
Architecture and the City in Central Europe|Study Abroad June 2016
Contributions:For the People,By the People:The Emergence of the Gemeindebau Building Type Resume
Founding Member+Visual Arts Committee Lead|Rising Tide Artis Collective May 2022-present Philadelphia,PA+thetri-state area
●Buildoutcollectiveinfrastructure+internalprocesses,collaboratewithothermemberstocreateguidingdocumentation(conflictresolutionplan,communityagreements,strategicplan,projecttimelines,templates,branding,etc.)
●Overseeadministrativetasks(feedbackformmaintenance+datacollection,externalcommunication,donation/financialmanagement,update+maintainthecollectivearchive
●Facilitatecollectivemeetings,createmeetingagendas,collaboratewithotherleadsonpriorityactionitems,keepminutes,andcreatespacefornewfolkstoparticipateincollectivemeetings
●Managecollectiveoperationsrelatingtovisualartsandartists:helpingeventorganizersfindartiststofeatureatmusicshows,growinganetworkofartistsworkingwiththecollective,connectingartiststoopportunitiesinthecommunity,andorganizingarts-relatedevents
Art Art Assistant | Richard Wilks Studio January 2019 – May 2020 Los Angeles, California
● Assist artist Richard Wilks with the Liquid Forest project using DIY recycling machines designed by Precious Plastic and built in-studio to shred and melt plastic into rods that form the 16-foot tall interactive sculpture + preventing over one metric ton of plastic from entering landfills and oceans
● Community engagement teaching about Precious Plastic and Liquid Forest at community recycling workshops Spatial Designer + Curatorial Assistant | Siddhartha Das Studio + JD Centre of Art November 2017 – September 2018 New Delhi, India
● Contributions: wrote Panka: A collection of hand fans from the Indian Subcontinent and beyond by artist Jatin Das exhibition materials, Sardar Government Museum collection catalog + collection information panels, JDCA International Film Festival on Art and Artist 2018 catalog, press release, press kit
● Write, research, and archive material for studio publications, presentations, and projects including: o JD Centre of Art: Imagining the Arts: Film Festival on Art + Artist Bhubaneswar, Odisha Event production assistant; media, content, and communications management o Sardar Government Museum Jodhpur, Rajasthan Curatorial assistant, researcher, archivist, content developer, lighting and spatial design
SHOWS + EXHIBITIONS
Trip! Community Art Showcase Solo Show Featured Artist, Santa Monica, California October 2021
7 selected paintings, prints Art Show International Virtual Exhibition Solo Exhibition Artist, Los Angeles, California 10 multimedia paintings and written works March 2021
Venice Beach Afterburn Liquid Forest Artist Assistant + Fabricator, Venice, California November 2019
Sculpture: handmade recycled plastic beams, aluminum skeleton + details, LEDs on steel base The Brewery Art Walk Liquid Forest Artist Assistant + Fabricator, Los Angeles, California April, October 2019
Sculpture: handmade recycled plastic beams, aluminum skeleton + details, LEDs on steel base Burning Man 2019 Liquid Forest Artist Assistant + Fabricator, Black Rock Desert, Nevada August 2019
Sculpture: handmade recycled plastic beams, aluminum skeleton + details, LEDs on steel base University of Pittsburgh Senior Art Exhibition Dear Hannah Artist, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania April 2017
Lithograph print series of 8, 2 ed.: bone black ink on BFK August 8 Artist, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Sculptural painting, 5 pieces: oils on basswood, maple, glue Light It Up! Video Exhibition nude Artist, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania March 2017
Video: projected on Tony Smith’s Light Up sculpture on University of Pittsburgh campus History of Art and Architecture Exhibition Foundations Studio Exploration of Public+Private Space Designer, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania March 2016
Model+Drawings: Basswood, museum board, foam board, dried baby’s breath, glue, paper, ink, vellum
