MICHAEL ABEJA

Hi!  

​

My name is Michael Abeja, and I am the Digital Art Teacher at Larkin High School.  It's an honor to be part of the Royal community.  I am thankful for many helpful staff members, talented students, and supporting parents who have helped create an exciting learning experience for everyone here. 

 

Being born and raised in the neighborhood of Little Village (La Villita) in Chicago, Illinois,  I am grateful to be so close to the city.  I was able to take advantage of all the benefits the city has to offer, from culture to attractions to all the life lessons.  I remember attending mural meet-ups with local graffiti artists and being impressed with all the different types of artworks being made.  You saw painters putting up elaborated imagery, heard poets improving off of one another, and felt the bass of the musician's beats pulsating off your body.  From a very young age, I knew I wanted to be a big part of this environment or at least bring this to my school.  For many of my friends, this was the only way we could express ourselves and understand what was happening around us.  As a kid, images became my primary form of communication.  To this day, you find me adding little visuals to everything I read and write.
​
I attended the University of Illinois at Chicago.  I received my bachelor's degree in Art Education with a concentration in digital arts and a credential to teach art (9-12).  I have been teaching for 10 years now, 2 of which at U-46 and 8 Chicago Public Schools., I have also taken on other art instructor roles, such as 
21st CCLC Enrichment/Intervention Program Teacher at U-46 and after-school Instructor for Enlace Chicago for four years.  These after-school opportunities have helped me develop and run multiple clubs like Digital Design Club, Phoenix Films Production, Video Gaming Club, and Arts and Crafts Club.

​

With 10 years, each year is better than the last.  I strive to align my curriculum with each grade level unit and incorporate the National Visual Arts and Common Core State Standards.  Art has many ways of expressing our ideas, and I make sure my students can play with various materials and tools.  My students are introduced to artworks of artists from all walks of life, sharing their stories and experiences.  I like an open-door policy during lunch and after school, so students can further experiment with their designs.   
​
At UIC, I experimented with more traditional art mediums such as oil painting, charcoal drawings, and clay.  Thanks to UIC, I found my passion in life, Art Education.  There is no more fulfilling feeling than having the opportunity to mold and shape the minds of the future generation.  I work in all mediums, but digital and installation works are my tea.  I work prominently with video, animation, photography, audio, graphic and web design, 3D, and responsive arts. 
​
While I love digital artwork, there is nothing better than holding a work of art in my hands, so I decided to bring my digital design work to life.  Soon after, I began my screen printing profession, Chicago Made Shirts.  I formed this business to provide local Chicago artists the ability to promote themselves and collaborate with our design team to create and print original works of art.  I inspire my students to find a way to utilize the tools and techniques they learn in class to carve out their niche in this ever-growing art industry.