SHIPS OF THE SEA MARITIME MUSEUM

Abigail Tankersley is a fiber artist based in Knoxville, TN with a BFA in Fibers from Savannah College of Art & Design. She currently works as Embroidery Assistant at Label Industries, and in her studio on her current series “Bless Ur Heart.”

 

The endless possibilities of fibers led her to specialize in textiles, where she explores an array of mediums, prioritizing reuse of waste materials. What started as a broke college student recycling everything she could in order to make her ideas come to life, became a practice often centered around mindful use and reuse of materials.

 

In her work, Tankersley combines playful colors, textures, and patterns that evoke feelings of childlike joy and familiarity, while incorporating elements of scale and form that initiate discomfort, prompting viewers to confront visceral reactions. She believes that when art forces us to be vulnerable with our feelings and experiences, we begin to cultivate meaningful connections that are crucial for our humanity.

Tankersley’s work for “Supper at Sea” at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum (2025) “Seven Sisters” is currently installed in the museum’s garden. Her first solo show, “Even A Worm Will
Turn” at RO3 Gallery in Savannah, GA followed her residency as a SCAD Alumni Atelier Ambassador in April 2023. She has also exhibited in shows such as “Beyond Sight” at the Savannah Cultural Arts Center (2023), “Welcome To Our Haus” at Bobblehaus (2023), and “Un-Script-It” at Kunstraum LLC (2022). Her work is also a part of SCAD’s permanent collection, and has been permanently and temporarily installed at the school’s Savannah, Atlanta, and Lacoste campuses.