About

Abbinga is a cross-disciplinary artist whose practice spans painting, textiles, large-scale soft sculpture, and photography. Her work engages with cultural heritage, mythology, and the resilience of identity, often drawing from ancestral traditions to create contemporary narratives. Rooted in research and collaboration, Abbinga’s practice explores the power of symbolic imagery, particularly in times of displacement, and collective struggle.

Through her work, Abbinga creates spaces where the past and present converge, inviting dialogue on the role of art in resistance, survival, and belonging.

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023The Well Part V, (public performance) Federation Square, Melbourne
2021Family Matters, Collinwood Yards Studio Corridor, Melbourne
2019Material Gesture, (collaboration with Larissa Linnell) St Heliers Gallery, Melbourne
2019Crownings, (collaboration with Larissa Linnell) Melbourne City Library Gallery, Melbourne
2016Arrival of the Rajah, Next Wave Festival, Abbotsford Convent, Next Wave Festival
2015Arrival of the Rajah, (public performance) Customs House Lawn, Geelong
2015The Well Part III, RMIT School of Art Gallery, Melbourne
2014The Well Part II, Conduit Art Initiative, Melbourne
2013The Well Part I, (public performance) Federation Square, Melbourne
2013Tunnel Blindness, Homemade Festival, Melbourne
2012RMIT Expanded Studio Practice Graduation Show, RMIT University, Melbourne
2011Babynya First Site Gallery, Melbourne   
2009Memories, Penang International Arts Festival, Georgetown, Malaysia  
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022Public Art Park 2022, Testing Grounds/ Melbourne Fringe Festival Hub, Melbourne
2018Opens Spaces, Abbotsford Convent Melbourne
2018UDHA Quilts, Australian Museum for Democracy, Canberra
2017Favoureconomy, Airspace Projects, Merrickville, NSW
2017Favoureconomy, George Paton Gallery, Melbourne
2017Artists in Residency, Australian Tapestry Workshop, South Melbourne
2015Colour In Action, Noordin Family Tomb, Penang, Malaysia
2015Quarter Acre, Blindside, Melbourne
2015Lost in Translocation, RMIT School of Art Gallery, Melbourne
2013Bah Humbug, D11, Melbourne
2013Hot Mess, D11, Melbourne
2013Collective Wanderings, First Site Gallery, Melbourne
2011Agendo, Abbotsford Convent Gallery, Melbourne  
EDUCATION, INTERNSHIP, RESIDENCIES
2022-2023Photography and Digital Imaging, Certificate IV, RMIT University
2016Artist in Residency, Australian Tapestry Workshop, South Melbourne
2015-2016Next Wave Kickstart Program
2009-2013 Bachelor of Fine Arts (Expanded Studio Practice) with High Distinction, RMIT University
2012Internship, Gertrude Contemporary
2003Bachelor of Urban and Environmental Planning, University of Melbourne  
GRANTS  
2019Creative Victoria Creative Development Grant for Shroud of Remembrance
2019City of Yarra Small Arts Grant for project Material Gesture
2018Australia Council funding for project Crownings
2017City of Melbourne Grant for project Crownings
2015Geelong Community Arts Grant for exhibition Arrival of the Rajah
2015Next Wave Kickstart artists program for exhibition Arrival of the Rajah
2015Art Start, Australia Council for the Arts
2016Creative Victoria Project Grant for exhibition Arrival of the Rajah
2015Australian Cultural Fund for exhibition Colour in Action  
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
2019Natalie King, Interview, Crownings https://www.natalieking.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/CROWNINGS_publication.pdf
2017Dr Kevin Murray Garland Magazine, , Giving Thanks in Australia exhibition Arrival of the Rajah, https://garlandmag.com/article/eva-heiky-olga-abbinga/;
2016Katie Paine Arrival of the Rajah: Eva Abbinga, Next Wave Wormhole, http://2016.nextwave.org.au/worm-hole/
2016Jessica Arnott, To Scotland and Back Again, Mortals Magazine, 17th May
2015Verity Hayward, Lost in Translocation exhibition essay