Professional Visual Artist Bio

1. Ms. Afrika Abney
Professional Visual Artist Bio
Ms. Afrika Abney is an alumnus of the prestigious Corcoran School of Art. She is an
accomplished professional visual artist and is influenced by such artists as Jorge Somarriba,
Marvin Sin, Lois M. Jones, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, and Sam Gilliam.
Ms. Abney has donated, given away and sold many of her paintings and collages for over 20
years. Ms. Abney studied visual art at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, Corcoran School of the Art
(1980s and from 1993 - 1997) and Bell Multicultural High School (1991-1993). Her art teacher at
Bell (1991 - 1993) was Mr. Jorge Somarriba.
Ms. Abney has been nominated for a variety of awards including the 2001 Mayor's Arts Award
in the category of Outstanding Emerging Artist. She also has been the recipient of multiple
grants from the D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities and participated in the
Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton's Congressional Art Competition in 1992 and 1993.
She has exhibited widely throughout the East Coast at such places as Emma Mae Gallery
(Washington, DC), The New Harlem Gallery (New York City, New York), Wisteria ArtSpace
(New York City, New York), Corcoran Gallery of Art (Washington, DC), Market 5 Gallery
(Washington, DC), The Phillips Collection (Washington, DC), Dupont Society (Washington, DC),
Phish Tea Cafe (Washington, DC), Moca DC (Washington, DC), Ellington's on Eighth
(Washington, DC), and El Tamarindo Restaurant (Washington, DC) just to name a few.
For more than 15 years, Ms. Abney has used her talent and skills not only create vibrant
paintings but also to grow the visual arts community by training youth and adults. Additionally,
she has designed, produced, and implemented, visual art workshops at several private schools
and government agencies, including the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation.
She has been working on many creative projects for over 10 years and is available for art
exhibitions, artistic services, and other services furnished upon request. Ms. Abney is currently
working on several collage and digital art pieces and looking for paid opportunities where she
can utilize her formal training and education as a professional visual artist.
Ms. Abney can be reached at abneyartist@gmail.com.