MARIA PATRICIA ABUEL
b. Toronto/Tkarón:to, Canada | lives and works in Toronto/Tkarón:to, Canada
EDUCATION
2026 Candidate for Master of Fine Arts, Visual Arts, York University 2028
2021 Honours Bachelor of Arts, Studio Specialist, University of Toronto Scarborough
SELECT SOLO EXHIBITIONS & PROJECTS
2025 Kisplap ng Kapwa, Pasko Sa Kultura 2025, The Tranzac, Toronto, CA
Tunog ng mga Tala/Sound of the Stars at Nuit Blanche East Danforth 2025, Toronto, CA
2022 Konstelasyon, Pasko sa KULTURA at Daniels Spectrum, Toronto, CA
Wee Asian Arts Channel, 26th Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival, Toronto, CA
Bangon, KAPISANAN Philippine Centre of Arts and Centre, Playground Café, Toronto, CA
2020 Abundance, Artspace, Peterborough, CA
Artist Project, Toronto, CA
2019 Oh Maria…, Xpace Cultural Centre, Toronto, CA
2018 Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, Toronto, CA
Maarté, 187 Augusta, Toronto, CA
GULO!, Gallery 1265, Scarborough, CA
2016 HANDA, Y+ Contemporary, Scarborough, CA
SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS & PROJECTS
2026 SEA FRIENDS FEST St. Matthew’s Clubhouse, Toronto, CA
2025 tabi tabi po, SPACE Untld, Toronto, CA
Unravelling, Gallery 101, Ottawa, CA
habilin zine, Toronto, CA
2024 maghabi magkatabi zine, Toronto, CA
2023 Unsettled: Transcultural Experiences, Gallery 1313, Toronto, CA
2019 Disputed Bodies, Trinity Square Video, Toronto, CA
2018 House(hold), Cedar Ridge Creative Centre, Scarborough, CA
That's Enough, UTSC Senior Student Exhibition 2018, Artscape Youngplace, Toronto, CA
Shelley Peterson Student Art Exhibition, Art Museum, Toronto, CA
Video Fever 2018, Trinity Square Video, Toronto, CA
2015 Visualizing the Intimate in Filipino/a Lives, OCAD Open Gallery, Toronto, CA
SELECT AWARDS & GRANTS
2025 Creative Communities, Toronto Arts Council
2023 Community-Engaged Research Grant, Philippine Studies Group, York University
2022 #RisingYouth Grant
ArtReach Grant
2021 AGO Artist Support Initiative
2020 Doris Mccarthy Gallery Artistic Practice Award
2018 Shelley Peterson Student Exhibition Juror Award
First Place Award, Annual UTSC Annual Juried Exhibition
2017 Performance Art Award, Annual UTSC Annual Juried Exhibition
SELECT WORKSHOPS & PRESENTATIONS
2026 “Community Days: A Sweet & Savoury Crafternoon with SEA FRIENDS” Programming with Next Generation Arts, Scarborough, CA
2025 Guest Lecturer for OCAD University “Interwoven Perspectives: Sustainability, Creativity, and Cultural Practices in Photography” course
“Unravelling” Artist Talk, Gallery 101, Ottawa
“Community and Preserving Textile Practices Through Zines” Artist-led Dialogue for Object/Project Art Book Fair, Ottawa
2024 Guest Lecturer for University of Toronto “Essential Skills for Emerging Artists” course
2022-2025 Filipino Arts and Culture for Grades 7-12, Toronto Catholic Distrcit School Board
2023 Parol-making, Cambio & Co. and Jillian Joy Hand Crafted Pasko & Parols Holiday Pop-up
Graduating with Studio Art: Alumni in the Arts, University of Toronto Scarborough
2022 Filipino Arts and Culture for Grades 1-8, Halton Catholic District School Board
2016 Performance Art Introduction, Kapisanan Philippine Centre
SELECT PUBLICATIONS & PRESS
2026 “Sea Friends Fest nagpamalas ng mga likha ng Southeast Asian creatives” OMNI New Filipino, CA
2025 “Paghahabi at Paskong Pilipino, maaasahan sa nalalapit na Nuit Blanche Toronto” OMNI News Filipino, CA
CBC Radio All in a Day “How textile art weaves together the Filipino diaspora in new Gallery 101 exhibition”
2024 CBC Radio Metro Morning “Advent Calendar” on Filipino Christmas culture
2024 Filipino textiles sentro sa bagong zine ng isang Filipino group sa Toronto, OMNI News Filipino, Canada
2022 Bodies of Knowledge: Issue 1, TACLA, Toronto
2020 Abundance, Y+ Contemporary & Artspace, Scarborough and Peterborough
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Co-founder and Co-director, SEA FRIENDS Toronto, CA March 2026-Present
Co-founder & Collective Member, habi habi po, Toronto, CA July 2023-Present
Artist Assistant for Blessyl Buan, Scarborough, CA August-October 2024
Program Manager, KAPISANAN Philippine Centre, Toronto, CA April 2022-July 2024
Research & Translator for Tram Nghiem, Philippines March-May 2024
Course Instructor, Workman Arts, Toronto, CA September-October 2022
Program Assistant, East End Arts, Toronto, CA July-November 2022
Programming Coordinator, Images Festival 2022, Toronto, CA April-August 2022
Volunteer, The Power Plant Contemporary Gallery, Toronto, CA Jan 2018-June 2019
Production Assistant to Christopher Willes, Toronto, CA Sept-Oct 2019
Production Assistant to Jacqueline Aquines, Montreal, CA April 2019
Performer, Listening in the Library, Christopher Willes, Scarborough, CA Oct 2017
Performer, The Forest, Will Kwan, Nuit Blanche at the AGO, Toronto, CA Oct 2017
Special Studio Projects Director, ARTSIDEOUT, Scarborough, CA July-Oct 2017
Exhibitions & Outreach Assistant, Doris McCarthy Gallery, Toronto, CA 2016-2017
Assistant to Cheryl L'Hirondelle and Camille Turner, Scarborough, CA June 2016
Gallery & Program Assistant, Y+ Contemporary, Scarborough, CA 2016-2017
Programming Coordinator, Gallery 1265, Scarborough, CA Sept 2015- March 2016