About Me
Portlander - Painter - Mama
Born and raised in Portland, OR, Abby (she/her) lives, teaches, creates, and raises her three art-making daughters. Abby’s earliest memory of creative practice began as a child when her mother would take her to the Oregon Coast to sit and paint the ocean. Abby began her professional art journey as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Art Therapist. Abby spent 17 years working in alternative school settings teaching art and facilitating a Studio based art curriculum.
Abby creates a sense of grounding for herself and others through her work and seeks a daily balance for the thriving development of her creative teaching and making practice.
Abby’s colorful abstract musings come to life in her acrylic and mixed media pieces. She often paints late at night when the rest of the household is asleep.
When Abby isn’t making art, she is scavenging for supplies, going on walks to pick up leaves, and hiking with her daughters to take photographs. Abby is examining her own white privilege, biases and educating herself and her children about systemic racism through listening to voices from the global majority, reflecting, and engaging in various forms of ARTivism. Abby is an ally of the LGBTQ+ community and believes in the freedom of reproductive rights of anyone with a uterus.
Contact: abby@abbypainter.com
Abby Houston, MA, LPC, ATR
Licensed Professional Counselor, State of Oregon
Registered Art Therapist
Art Teacher
Resume
MA in Art Therapy Counseling, 2005 Marylhurst University, Portland, OR
Bachelor of Fine Art, 2003 Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, WA
Curriculum Vitae
Upcoming December 2024 Solo Show, Albina Press, Portland, OR
Upcoming May 2024: Solo Show, Variable Creatives, Portland, OR
March 2024, Las Lagunas Art Gallery, Virtual Art Exhibition, Laguna Beach, CA
March 2024, Club V, All Women Group Exhibition, Thr Ford Gallery, Portland, OR
Jan/Feb 2024, Go Big or Go Home Group Exhibition, The Ford Gallery, Portland, OR
Oct/Nov 2023, Abstract Only Group Exhibition, The Ford Gallery, Portland, OR
Sept 2023, Anniversary Show, No Name Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
May 2023, Flower Power Group Art Show, The Ford Gallery, Portland, OR
May 2023, Artist Residency, The Verdancy Project, Troutdale, OR
March 2023, Earth & Tones Mini Art Show, Gallery Go Go, Portland, OR
February 2023, Home Away From Home Gallery, Group Show, Chicago, IL
November 2022, No Name Gallery Group Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA
August 2022, Brushed Group Show, The Compound Gallery, Emeryville, CA
July 2022, Artist in Residence, Paper Epiphanies, Portland, OR
April 2022, Artist Residency, The Verdancy Project, Troutdale, OR
January 2022, 4x4 Mini Art Group Show, Art Larger than Me Gallery, Portland, OR
June 2021, Artist Residency, Stay Home Gallery, Paris, Tennessee
April 2021, Artists for the USPS, Group Show, Greenly Art Space, Signal Hill, CA
February 2021, Illustrator, Flagrant Magazine, Issue 02
September 2020, Artists for the USPS, Group Show, The Art Gym, Denver, CO
August 2020 Pelham Art Center USPS Group Art Show, Pelham New York,
July 2020, PianoPushPlay artist
Nov 2019 Ink & Drink, makers creating work to benefit Rosehaven Women’s Shelter (one night only)
July 2019 MARTK’D Sneaker Design Event in collaboration with Sneaker Week Portland, Finalist
May 2019 Featured Artist, Game Day Poster Series, Portland Trail Blazers Playoff Edition
January 2011, April 2013 & March 2017, created and birthed my children.
2005 - Current, Facilitating, Teaching, Curating creative development in the communities around me at home and while teaching
Sept 2011 Evolve Gallery at 100th Monkey Studio, Portland, 5th Anniversary group show
April 2005 MA in Art Therapy Counseling Collaborative Show, Marylhurst University
May 2003 BFA Juried Show, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma WA