Today we’d like to introduce you to Abby Kacen.
Abby, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story crosses various intersections. I’m originally from Chicago, and growing up there is when I first learned how to draw. If I wasn’t reading a book or comic, I was creating my own stories. My family is multi-ethnic, mixed with Honduran and Polish, and both sides are incredibly hard-working. My parents prepared my siblings and me well to grow into driven and independent people. And since I’ve lived in Georgia, I’ve felt very connected to the rich diversity and creativity the Southeast has to offer.
I attended the University of Georgia, where I received a BFA in Interdisciplinary Arts, focusing on visual storytelling. A couple of years later, I returned to receive a Master of Arts in Nonprofit Management. This educational combo really makes up what I do professionally today: work for nonprofits that serve artists because I want to help create more inclusive and accessible means for artists to grow.
And because I’m also a punk, I like to do things sort of underground. I’ve toured briefly around the Southeast, attending zine and small press festivals. These are a great way to meet other artists, connect, and trade work. I then started my website, Keep It Weird, as a way for me to continue selling my art. Then when COVID-19 hit, festivals obviously weren’t happening. That moment was when I realized I could use my existing platform to help other artists get started on e-commerce. And thus, Keep It Weird Collective was founded.
Keep It Weird Collective or https://keepitweird.art is managed solely by me when I’m not at my day job or working on my own artistic endeavors. The website aims to maximize artist’s profits and cut out all the annoyances of setting up a website, updating the site, advertising, and promoting social media. And because this is DIY and dirty, I do this voluntarily. I’m not in this to make money off of the artists and friends that join our collective. Everyone pitches in an equal amount to pay for the domain and Shopify subscription, and everyone takes home the money they make from their sales. Sounds crazy, right? Well, I’m not a very good capitalist. I’m a volunteer.
To top it off, I’m a cartoonist and illustrator. I promote myself regularly by sharing my comics and illustrations publicly on the internet. From 2020 to this year, I’ve finally self-published my first long-format comic book titled “Sid & the Sickos,” and I’ve already got more books in the works. I also enjoy making illustrations for music-related gigs, such as show posters, concert merch, and album art. My myriad of passions is somewhat of a hustle, but it’s what I love doing because art is my community, and it’s how I get to bring people together.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have fallen down on my journey plenty of times. The main reason for those falls has been not understanding my mental health needs. I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder in 2015 when I actively started seeing a therapist. As an artist, I feel like it’s easy for me to internalize my emotions and channel them into a drawing. However, that’s not a long-term healthy solution to finding self-acceptance and self-love.
And also, when I graduated from art school, I was not prepared to start a career. I worked in the foodservice industry up until 2019 and had I not started piecing together my emotional health, I don’t think I would’ve had the strength to go back to school and pursue my passion for helping others in my community.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I would say that my specialty is storytelling. Because you can tell a story in many ways, I like to use zines, comic strips, and illustrations for my stories because I’m an interdisciplinary artist. These mediums combine drawn and written forms in a way that just works for me.
In 2019, I started painting and doing chalk art for a local pub. Then in 2020, I started my first mural. I’m generally afraid of heights, so working on a ladder is not something they teach you in art school. But I’m pretty proud of the mural work I’ve done at Nuçi’s Space and having my characters float around on a chalkboard. And I’m overjoyed with how my first book, “Sid & the Sickos” was received, and I can’t wait to release my following books.
I think what sets me apart from many artists is my pricing. I don’t charge a lot for my drawings and paintings because I believe art should be accessible. I don’t set my prices low because I don’t value my work; instead, I want anyone out there to have something beautiful or something that resonates with them their home. In addition, my style is very colorful and packed with unique characters that are inspired by my history of partying at shows.
How do you think about luck?
I feel like I am fortunate. My family has never given up on me, even at my lowest points in life. And that day I met my partner was indeed a lucky day. I would not have continued to push for a better life for myself had it not been for him. When I started taking better care of myself and set my sights on a goal, everything in the universe felt like it was falling into place for me artistically and professionally. I’d say I willed that good cosmic energy into my life, but that’s because I knew what I wanted to manifest.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://keepitweird.art
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mild_pain/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KeepItWeirdArt
