Abigail E. Penner

Abigail is an illustrator who fearlessly explores the intricate relationship between mental and physical illness through her art. Her creations stem from raw emotions of truth, longing, and grief, where her signature monsters loom large and bare their teeth. Yet, as she shares her journey through art, Abigail discovers a profound connection with others, realizing she’s never truly alone.

Abigail says, “I make art about my mental illness and my physical illness and the way they interact with one another. My illustrations come from a place of truth, longing, and grief. My monsters are big, and they bare their teeth, and they tear me apart; but as I share my art with the world, it is becoming more and more apparent that I am entirely un-alone. Drawing has always been there for me; it's always been home. I've never been incredible at expressing myself verbally; being able to draw and write poetry has helped me sit with my emotion and express it for hours on end.”

The What We Bloom collection with Abigail (“A Place of Truth”) emphasizes her unique, classic American traditional style. A portion of the proceeds of Abigail’s collaboration will go to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), an American non-profit organization devoted to preventing eating disorders, providing treatment referrals, and increasing the education and understanding of eating disorders, weight, and body image.