ABBY NOWAKOWSKI
Lives and works in Central Frontenac / Kingston / Guelph
abbyjgnowakowski@hotmail.com / poorthingdesigns@gmail.com
EDUCATION
2024 Creating Comics and Graphic Novels, University of Toronto
2022 Queer ASL 101, Queer ASL
2021-2022 Illustration Certificate, Emily Carr University of Art + Design
2019 Bachelor of Arts Honours (with distinction) Double Major in Studio Art and Art History, University of Guelph
2019 Hochschule für Kunste Bremen, Bremen Germany
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2020-Present Artist, freelance illustration and tattooing
2021-2024 Program Director, Union Gallery
2021-22 Administrative and Communication Coordinator, Union Gallery
2019-22 Co-Founder & Owner, Otherwise Studios
2022 Art Instructor, Kingston School of Art
2022 Art Instructor, Agnes Etherington Art Centre
2020-21 Bookbinder, Publication Studios Guelph
2020-21 Co-Coordinator & Facilitator, Co-Create Residency (hosted by Otherwise Studios and Bumaroo)
2020 Mentor and Community Facilitator, Art in Hard Times Virtual Mural Project, Art Not Shame
2019-22 Installation Assistant, Art Gallery of Guelph
2019-22 Art Instructor, Guelph School of Art
2019 Guelph Emerging Artist Mentorship Program Coordinator, Guelph Arts Council
2019 Coordinator and Tour Guide, Art on the Street Walking Tours, City of Guelph
2018 Artist in Residence, 10C Shared Space
2018-19 Graphic Coordinator, Royal City Roller Derby
2017-19 Printmaking Monitor, University of Guelph
2017 Graphic Assistant, Royal City Roller Derby
2017-18 Youth Art Instructor, City of Guelph
2017 Guelph Young Artist Mentorship Project, Guelph Arts Council
2017-19 Summer Camp Art Instructor, Guelph School of Art
2012-15 Art Instructor, Art & Class Studio and Boutique
RECENT TEACHINGS + WORKSHOPS
2024 Cyanotyping: Creating Solar Prints, Blue Skies Music Festival
2024 The Studio: Paste-Ups for Social Change, Agnes Etherington Art Centre
2024 Creation Station: Family storytime with Dare de LaFemme, Agnes Etherington Art Centre
2023 Printmaking Workshop, Agnes Etherington Art Centre
2023 Printmaking in the Classroom: Arts in Edu-Action, Kingston School of Art and Limestone District School Board
2023 Linocut Patches, Blue Skies Music Festival
2023 Hand Pokers: Introduction to Hand Poke Tattooing
2023 Screenprinting on Fabric, Kingston School of Art
2023 Linocut on Fabric, Kingston School of Art
2023 Chine Collé, Kingston School of Art
2023 Intaglio Printmaking, Kingston School of Art
2023 Linocut + Print, Juvenis Festival
PUBLIC COMMISSIONS + ARTIST TALKS
2024 Fundraiser Poster – Illustrator, Aprikose
2024 Coffee Plant Logo – Illustrator, BSE Skate Shop
2023 Fat Goose Craft Fair Poster – Illustrator, Fat Goose Craft Fair
2023 Handcrafted: mending – Illustrator, Toque Ltd
2023 Star Pass beer label – Illustrator, Daft Brewing
2023 Change Makers: 10C Shared Space – Illustrator, Toque Ltd
2023 Rock/Paper/Scissors Book + Print Fair – Illustrator, ArtsEverywhere, PS Guelph, Musagetes
2022 Scarcity, memory, and the theory of nonmonogamy – Illustrator, ArtsEverywhere
2022 Solstice Party – Illustrator, Agnes Etherington Art Centre
2022 Seatmates – Illustrator, ArtsEverywhere
2022 Brand Logo, Speed River Paddling
2022 Is caring for everyone possible – Illustrator, ArtsEverywhere
2022 Bird Friendly Window Sticker – Illustrator, Bird Safe Guelph
2022 Care and Historical Memory: An Exchange – Illustrator, ArtsEverywhere
2022 International Women’s Day Colouring Book – Illustrator, Workers Arts and Heritage Centre
2022 Ursa: A Folk Musical – Illustrator, Toronto Fringe
2022 Moving Branding – Illustrator, Move How U Want
2021 Guelph AIDS Walk Tote Bag – Illustrator, ARCH HIV/AIDS Resources & Community Health
2021 In Cahoots Beer Label – Illustrator, Brothers Brewing Company
2021 “Learning New Skills”, Connecting Circles – Virtual Conversations, 10C Shared Space
2020 Traverse: Transit Shelter Artist Showcase, City of Guelph
2020 Invited Presenter, Trade Secrets “How and Why to Build a Community”, The Gathered Gallery
2018 Artist Talk, 10C Shared Space, Culture Days Guelph
2017 Mural Artist, CSA Bike Center
2015 Mural Artist, Hosteling International-Lake Louise
SOLO + TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS and CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2025 softer than expected: a tattoo happening, Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre
2023 we are magic: love letter to our tattoos, Agnes Etherington Art Centre
2019 43.5411418,-80.2505353, Capacity 3
2018 43.5440570,-80.2486052, 10C Shared Space
2018 43.5311724,-80.2273678, Zavitz Gallery
2017 Looking at Him, Zavitz Gallery
2017 Double Take, Zavitz Gallery
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Playful Encounters, Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre, Kingston
2022 Show of Smalls, Tri-Art Gallery, Kingston
2022 Smalls, Katherine Muir Miller Gallery, Perth
2022 Together While Apart, Workers Arts and Heritage Centre, Hamilton
2022 Cézanne’s Closet, Union Gallery, Kingston
2022 Living Room, Fabricated Gallery
2022 SHOW.21, Cambridge Art Galleries, Cambridge
2021 Temporary Collection, Ed Video Media Arts Centre, Guelph
2020 Hoop-La!, N/A Gallery, Necessary Arts, Guelph
2019 This Idea Was Given to me by a Thousand People (Who Are These People), Boarding House Gallery, Guelph
2019 Art Store, Zavitz Gallery, Guelph
2018 Bon.ho.mie, Project Space, Guelph
2018 Shared Space, Zavitz Gallery, Guelph
2018 Transmission, Zavitz Gallery, Guelph
2018 Poorly Translated, Gallerie Flut, Bremen, Germany
2018 Navigate, Zafek, Bremen, Germany
2018 [ir]regular + [ir]rational, Boarding House Gallery, Guelph
2018 JAS Top Ten Show, Boarding House Gallery, Guelph
2018 She Has Her Mother’s Eyes, Zavitz Gallery, Guelph
2018 Painting IV Group Show, Silence, Guelph
2017 Collective Knowledge, Boarding House Gallery, Guelph
SCHOLARSHIPS, GRANTS and AWARDS
2023 we are magic, Exhibition Assistance Grant, Ontario Arts Council
2022 Amateur Radio Certification Course, Ed Video Media Art Centre
2020 Jane Graham Memorial Award, Guelph Arts Council
2019 Sculpture Award Nominee, BMO 1st Art! Invitational Student Art Competition
2019 Printmaking Award, Juried Art Show, University of Guelph
2019 Sculpture Award, Juried Art Show, University of Guelph
2019 Technician’s Award, Juried Art Show, University of Guelph
2019/18/17/16 Dean’s Honour List, University of Guelph
2018 Mentor Scholarship in Art History, University of Guelph
2018 Painting Award, Juried Art Show, University of Guelph
2018 6th Place Prize, Juried Art Show, University of Guelph
2018 ArtsEverywhere Emerging Scholars, Musagetes
2017 David Clark Bursary, University of Guelph
2017 Juried Art Show Volunteer Award, University of Guelph
2017 Junior Juried Art Show 2nd Place Prize, University of Guelph
2016 Art in the Bullring Winner, University of Guelph
RELEVANT VOLUNTEER WORK
2024-Present Director at Large, Board of Directors, Union Gallery
2024-Present Secretary, Board of Directors, Kingston Roller Derby
2023-Present Member-at-Large, Queer Connection Lanark
2022-Present Illustrator, Kingston Roller Derby
2022-23 Board of Directors, Modern Fuel Artist-Run Centre
2021 Jane Graham Memorial Award Selection Committee
2021 Colouring Page Illustrator, Guelph Spring Pride
2021 Activism Button Illustrator, Outpost Vintage & Thrift
2021 Colouring Page Illustrator, Guelph Winter Pride
2019 Hiring Committee Member, Assistant Professor in Studio Art – Digital/Printmaking/Print Media position, University of Guelph
2018-19 51st Juried Art Show Co-coordinator
2018 Communications Coordinator of the Fine Arts Network
2017-18 President of the Fine Arts Network
2016-17 Chair of the Fine Arts Network
2016-17 Communications Coordinator of the Fine Arts Network
2016-17 Life Drawing Night Programmer, Fine Arts Network
2016-17 Shenkman Lecture and MFA Open Studio Tour
2016 Head of Installations, Junior Juried Art Show
2016 Art for Education, Malala Fund
PUBLICATIONS + VIDEOS
2024 Cover illustration, Write Spring 2024 Issue, The Writers’ Union of Canada
2024 Jessica Endress, “Agnes Learns: Creating Magic“, Agnes Etherington Art Centre
2024 Grace Dixon, “Abby Nowakowski: Mark making as a path to community and hope”, Tri-Art Manufacturing
2023 Self Published, “we are magic: a love letter to our tattoos”
2023 FEELS ZINE Issue #20 – Acceptance
2023 FEELS ZINE Issue #19 – Shame
2022 FEELS ZINE Issue #18 – Sexy
2022 Syphon 7.0, “Survival Kit for the Future”, Modern Fuel
2022 FEELS ZINE Issue #17 – Growth
2022 Lesbians are Miracles, “tumbling”, Issue of Growth
2021 Jane Mackenzie, “Permission to Lose it”, I Love Lesbos
2021 Cambridge Art Galleries, SHOW.21 catalogue
2020 Anam Khan, “Guelph artists paired during quarantine showcase works of art online”, Guelph Today
2020 Toque Magazine, The Little Red Book, Cai’s Picks – People & Places
2019 Beet-cha-to-it Soup, Aging Artfully Community Cook, Button Factory Arts
2019 Specialized Studio, “This Idea was Given to me by a Thousand People”
2019 Kaleidoscope Issue #12 and #13
2018 Jane Litchfield, “When You Support Guelph Arts Council, You Support People Like Abby Nowakowski and Ahmri Vandeborne”, Guelph Arts Council
2018 Kaleidoscope Issue #11
2018 Jane Litchfield, “Meet Ahmri and Abby Two Artists Taking Time to Notice”, Guelph Today
2017 Kaleidoscope Issue #10
2017 “Annual Juried Art Show Lets Studio Art Students Shine”, the Ontarion
2016 Kaleidoscope Issue #8