Curriculum Vitae

Exhibitions, Recognitions, and Visual Art Awards

May 2025

Undergraduate Studio Art Senior Thesis Exhibition: V E R D U R O U S

Exhibited and orally defended a self-directed body of work exploring the liminal space between life and death, highlighting the cyclical nature of existence

Demonstrated advanced research, conceptual development, and presentation skills as partial fulfillment of the B.A. in Studio Art Featured as part of Carthage College’s annual Art Walk and exhibited alongside senior peer artists

Recipient of Edwin C. and Paula O. Kalke Award for Excellence in the Studio Arts, Departmental Honors, and Student Art Purchase Award from the Senior Thesis Exhibition

Mar 2022, 2023, 2025

Carthage College Annual Juried Student Art Show

Kenosha, WI

Selected to be a part of Carthage’s Annual Juried Student Art Show as a first, second, and fourth-year student

Received Honorable Mentions for the paintings “The Rose-Colored Twilight” (2021) and "Slit Vision" (2023)

May 2024

Annual Premier Night: Centrique Magazine

Kenosha, WI

Selected to exhibit Arizona Kaleidoscope, A Mirage of Hues and Flora (2023) at the Annual Premier Night, featuring visual art published in Centrique Magazine (2023-2024) at Carthage College

Terminal Exhale: Verbatim Theater Production

Kenosha, WI

Selected to exhibit my painting series on the topic of Gun Violence in Schools at the unveiling Verbatim Theater production, Terminal Exhale, which highlights the stories of frontline healthcare workers who treat the victims and survivors of gun violence

Mar 2018

Disney Performing Arts Award Recipient: Auxiliary & Music

Lake Buena Vista, FL

Participated in an auxiliary and music workshops at Disney World as part of my high school’s Majorette Team (ZB Majorettes) and Symphonic and Marching Band

Experience

May 2025 - Oct 2025

Public Art Intern & Muralist • Village of Winthrop Harbor

Winthrop Harbor, IL

Selected to design and execute a four-wall outdoor mural for Village Park's concession stand
Created a project timeline and full-color mock-up drawings for all four exterior walls
Collaborated with community stakeholders and sponsors to refine design
Planned and sourced weather-resistant materials for outdoor application
Prepared mural site and executed painting on-location at 2700 9th Street
Promoted creative placemaking and community engagement through public art

Aug 2023 - Jun 2025

Art Gallery Assistant • Carthage College

Kenosha, WI

Protecting and managing artwork
Maintain gallery appearance
Handling incoming works of art and preparing for exhibition
Assist gallery leadership with functions
Help visitors with information and location requests
Social media marketing (i.e. Instagram; Facebook)

Sep 2022 - Nov 2023

Ceramic Studio Assistant • Carthage College

Kenosha, WI

Made clay, glazes, and slips
Took studio inventory
Stocked supplies
Managed kiln room

Sep 2021 - Present

Freelance Artist; Small Business Owner • Abigail Lynn Art Studio

Greater Chicago Area, IL

Completing numerous commissions each year, ranging from pet portraits and landscapes to mixed media pieces and jewelry sets
Venturing into mural work, adding a new dimension to my artistic endeavors
Opened Etsy shop, AbigailLynnStudio
- Offering 25+ unique jewelry and ornament pieces
- Soon expanding offerings with prints of illustrations and paintings
Participating in local art markets in the summer to share art with a wider audience and connect with fellow art enthusiasts

Symposia, Grants, Presentations

*Partial Listing

Jan 2025

Carthage College Art Symposium: Visions Behind the Veil

Soviet Portraiture and Cultural Resilience

Selected as an art history student researcher for the annual Soviet era art symposium hosted by Carthage College

Researched and examined Portrait of Ter-Gregorian (1943) by Aleksandr Ivanovich Laktionov and Portrait of Konstantine Simonov (1969) by Vasili Prokofevich Efanov

Composed wall labels analyzing the artworks within their historical and cultural contexts, highlighting the interplay between Soviet Era portraiture and resilience during the era

Sep 2024 - May 2025

Undergraduate Art History Senior Thesis Research:

Sarah Sze: Sculptural Adaptation in a Fragmented World

Analyzed Sarah Sze’s installations as “memory machines” blending personal, cultural, and historical approaches to memory and archiving

Examined her challenge to traditional sculpture through ephemeral, interactive installations

Presented and defended thesis in December of 2024, demonstrating research, analysis, and presentation skills as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Bachelor of Art in Art History at Carthage College

Jan 2024

Carthage College Art Symposium: Place/Trace - Soviet Era-Art Exhibition

Selected as an art history student researcher for the annual Soviet art symposium hosted by Carthage College

Presented my research, which focused on the non-conformist piece Waterfront at Gurzuf/Hurzuf (1984) by Gennady Ivanovich Serov

Dec 2023

Gender in the Arts: The Female Portrait in Russian Art 1900-1930

Conducted in-depth research on Russian art from 1900 to 1930, focusing on gender representations in self-portraits and female figures in the course Gender in the Arts at Carthage College

Analyzed and presented my research on key artworks such as Zinaida Serebriakova's Woman at Her Toilette (1909), Boris Mikhailovich Kustodiev's Merchant’s Wife at Tea (1918), and Ilya Mashkov's Nude (1918) to explore artists' responses to evolving political climates

May 2023 - Sep 2023

Carthage College Summer Undergraduate Research Experience

(SURE) 2023 Grant Candidate

Selected for the competitive summer research program hosted by Carthage College. My project focused on Gun Violence in Schools. I created four semi-realistic acrylic paintings, capturing the raw emotional impact of school shootings.