Meet Abby Cerne | Artist & Art Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abby Cerne and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abby, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
This is a big question and calls for a big answer.

My mom hated my dad, but she always kept his quilts. I remember feeling confused about this as she destroyed any pictures of him. I cringe as the frames hit the wall and shatter. My mom screams and leaves the room. I desperately pull the family photo out of the newest wreckage, cutting my little hands. My parents took turns destroying the house. My sister and I watched. My mom hated my dad, but she always kept his quilts. Now, I can understand she kept them because he was a damn good quilter—less so husband and parent.
Sometimes I look back on my childhood, and I recall the best memories. I can still feel the warmth of the Vermont sun in July as I, along with my mom, grandma, Aunt Shanna, and sister Brielle, spent a weekend at a pottery sale in Bennington. Every year, we would take this girls’ trip from our home in the Adirondacks to the Green Mountain State. We’d eat Mexican food and fill the trunk with antiques. My dad, of course, never quite understood the charm of these trips. He grumbled about being abandoned and about how much of his money my mom spent on pottery. She still collects pottery today, but divorced my dad when I was in the 4th grade. My sister and I started therapy with a kind lady named Alison.
Therapy, divorces, and child support cost a lot of money, as I often heard. We ate ramen noodles and rode my dad’s Harley to Walmart to buy fabric. The two of us made excursions to estate sales or auctions seeking sewing machines with “good bones.” My dad even taught me how to quilt. I pressed the foot pedal and felt the machine awaken. My hands became scared, and I jumped back. The sewing machine resembled some kind of hand-eating monster to my wide eyes. “Be brave, Abber,” my dad would say.
I was the bravest, and no one even knew! I could throw myself between my parents’ fights once they inevitably escalated to become violent. I got sucked into the tornado that was their chaotic marriage and shamefully hid my newest bruises. I constantly tried to understand why my parents were like this and longed to make us happy like everyone else.

PHOTO HERE:
Philip Cerne. Sewing at the Kitchen Table. Plattsburgh, New York. 2007.

By the time I was sixteen, I knew I wanted to pursue art therapy. Growing up surrounded by violence, I had an insatiable curiosity about human behavior, and I began to research art therapy. I was determined to escape my small hometown and find meaning in the chaos. I pressed on through school, surviving seven consecutive years while grappling with the need to understand my roots.
While my dad moved to Costa Rica with his third wife, and my mom stayed in our childhood home with the abuser she left my dad for, my sister blossomed into a successful scientist. Someone once said, “We become who we needed most as children.” Today, I am an artist and art therapist in Boulder, Colorado. I’m a potter, a quilter, and a therapist—all deeply shaped by my parents.
PHOTO HERE:
Abby Cerne. 1956 Kenmore with Good Bones. Boulder, Colorado. 2024.

Each art medium I use represents a part of me. Sewing embodies my “mending and fixing” side. As a child, I tried unsuccessfully to fix my family. As an adult, I sublimated this need to repair by refurbishing a vintage 1956 Kenmore sewing machine from Goodwill. I also rescue discarded textiles and transform them into new creations, keeping them out of the waste stream. I invent new lives for them much like my own.

Clay represents my need for connection and community. In the ceramics studio at Hartwick College, I learned that working with clay is like being in a relationship. It demands constant attention and communication, responding to every move I make. The back-and-forth between me and the clay is a dialogue, much like the conversations we have with people.

PHOTO HERE:
Elsa Bock-Barnum. Big Pot. Oneonta, New York. 2017.

The pieces I create reflect the bonds I’ve shared with others. When I make dinnerware, I think of the friends who worked alongside me in the studio. Each pot holds memories, like snapshots of our shared experiences. I imagine people holding my hands through the pots I create with them, their thumbs sinking into the clay where mine once pressed. I hold my partner’s hands as I guide him in centering the clay on the wheel. Ceramics is a collaborative experience, rooted in connection. It has also become a means to engage with the broader community, as I take part in events like ‘Empty Bowls,’ which helps raise funds for humanitarian causes.

PHOTO HERE:
Sergio Cisneros. Hartwick Ceramics Studio. Oneonta, New York. 2016.

My pottery is quirky, whimsical, and fun. I paint underglaze images of farm animals, rainbows, and mid-century furniture—anything that adds a little joy to people’s everyday lives.

PHOTO HERE:
Abby Cerne. Mean Muggin. Boulder, Colorado. 2024

Art therapy is my way of giving back, using my own trauma to support others. I work as a child and youth art therapist at Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence, a nonprofit that supports survivors of domestic violence. In this role, shelter clients refer to me as “the art lady,” a title that inspired the name for my private practice, “The Art Therapy Lady.” Through strength-based, trauma-informed, social justice lens to art therapy, I support my clients to make meaning, create, and express their stories.

PHOTO HERE:
Abby Cerne. Art Therapy Lady. Boulder, Colorado. 2024.

My upbringing taught me two invaluable lessons: First, art has the power to transform trauma. It serves as a vehicle for communication and self-expression, offering a chance to reinvent oneself and find meaning in life. Second, behavior is learned. I hold compassion for my parents, understanding that they carried the pain of their own upbringing, reenacting the patterns passed down by their parents, communities, governments, and systems. We inherit the pain of our roots and lineage, passing trauma through generations until we create the capacity and environment for change. If violent behavior is learned, I choose to practice a different way of expressing ourselves. When I experience intense emotions, I turn to creation and connection rather than destruction.

I create art not just to heal myself but to help others find the courage to express and transform their pain. Life is a blank canvas, and each of us is the artist of our own story.

PHOTO HERE:
Abby Cerne. Art Therapy Studio. Boulder, Colorado. 2023.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, support is available. You are not alone, and support is just a call or text away. Reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233 or text BEGIN to 88788 for confidential support.

To help those who are survivors of domestic violence, consider donating to organizations that provide essential services and healing. Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence is a critical resource for survivors, and your contribution can make a real difference. Donate today at: https://www.safehousealliance.org/?form=donatetoday

For additional information or to learn about art therapy support, contact me at arttherapyladyllc@gmail.com. Together, we can help break the cycle and support transformation, creation, and growth.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
*****To avoid being repetitive, delete the above response in the large text and copy/paste the ending of the paragraph. Otherwise delete question here and leave attached to large question above.

PHOTO HERE:
Abby Cerne. Art Therapy Lady. Boulder, Colorado. 2024.

My upbringing taught me two invaluable lessons: First, art has the power to transform trauma. It serves as a vehicle for communication and self-expression, offering a chance to reinvent oneself and find meaning in life. Second, behavior is learned. I hold compassion for my parents, understanding that they carried the pain of their own upbringing, reenacting the patterns passed down by their parents, communities, governments, and systems. We inherit the pain of our roots and lineage, passing trauma through generations until we create the capacity and environment for change. If violent behavior is learned, I choose to practice a different way of expressing ourselves. When I experience intense emotions, I turn to creation and connection rather than destruction.

I create art not just to heal myself but to help others find the courage to express and transform their pain. Life is a blank canvas, and each of us is the artist of our own story.

PHOTO HERE:

Abby Cerne. Art Therapy Studio. Boulder, Colorado. 2023.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, support is available. You are not alone, and support is just a call or text away. Reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at (800) 799-7233 or text BEGIN to 88788 for confidential support.

To help those who are survivors of domestic violence, consider donating to organizations that provide essential services and healing. Safehouse Progressive Alliance for Nonviolence is a critical resource for survivors, and your contribution can make a real difference. Donate today at: https://www.safehousealliance.org/?form=donatetoday

For additional information or to learn about art therapy support, contact me at arttherapyladyllc@gmail.com. Together, we can help break the cycle and support transformation, creation, and growth.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Touring Colorado for a week with out-of-town friends is always an adventure, and I’m excited to show them all the wonderful things I’ve come to love about this place I now call home.

Monday:
We start the week with a healthy breakfast at Vitality Bowls, my go-to spot for superfood bowls. The Nutty Bowl and Temptation Smoothie are my favorites. Then, we head to the Boulder Goodwill, which is always full of hidden treasures, from Free People to quirky home décor. For lunch, we grab takeout from Snarfburger, where their veggie burger and crispy tater tots are hard to beat. We’ll picnic at Chautauqua Park, watching the sunset as we unwind.

Tuesday:
We kick off the day with breakfast at Woodgrain Bagels in Boulder, a Montreal-style bagel shop that takes me back to my childhood near the Canadian border. They serve the best coffee in town, and the Honey Vanilla Chai is a must-try. Afterward, we visit Arts Parts, a local store full of used art materials for inspiration. With a caffeine boost and new supplies, we head to the art therapy studio where we listen to Grateful Dead CDs and let our creativity flow.

Wednesday:
A visit to the hot springs is a perfect mid-week treat. We head to Indian Hot Springs in Idaho Springs, just a short drive away, where we can soak and relax in natural thermal waters. The scenic drive along I-70 is a bonus for visitors. Afterward, we’ll fuel up with a wholesome meal at Flower Child, where the earthy dishes are a favorite.

Thursday:
I may be biased, but my garden is one of my favorite places in Boulder. It’s a peaceful sanctuary in the midst of the city. We’ll spend the day frolicking among the flowers, picking fresh blooms to make our own bouquets. Dinner will be served on handmade plates, with a crochet tablecloth passed down from my grandmother. We’ll finish the day with a walk through the fields behind the house, enjoying yet another stunning sunset.

Friday:
It wouldn’t be a trip to Colorado without a hike! We’ll head up Sunshine Canyon for a morning hike or run, collecting rocks along the way to craft into keepsakes. Afterward, we’ll explore the shops on Pearl Street before a reservation at the beautiful Dushanbe Tea House, where my go-to dish is the Spicy Indonesian Peanut Noodles with tofu.

Saturday:
Saturdays are for adventure! We’ll take in a show or do Yoga on the Rocks at the iconic Red Rocks Amphitheater in Golden. It’s one of the most Instagram-worthy spots in Colorado. Then, we’ll wander the Boulder Farmers Market, where I always treat myself to a mixed berry crepe and Thai tea. We’ll stroll along the creek path, chatting as we go. Later in the evening, we’ll head to the Outback Saloon for some pool and cider, and of course, sing a duet at karaoke.

Sunday:
Sundays are perfect for thrifting. We’ll head to Denver’s Market in the Parket, my favorite thrifting destination. If there are no markets, we’ll visit the Goodwill Bins for unbeatable prices—just $1.89 per pound of clothing. After a thrifting haul, we’ll stop by River and Roads Coffee, where I always indulge in the gluten-free breakfast sandwich on a cheddar biscuit. Trust me, it’s a must-try!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My grandma was always my greatest supporter and encouraged me to express myself through art. She gave me my own Hello Kitty sewing machine and attended every art show I ever had. She taught me about unconditional support, warmth, and reliability. In high school, I had another champion in my art teacher, Mr. Girrard. After taking his ‘Digital Fundamentals’ class, he moved me into the accelerated self-directed program where I met my first community of artists. This was where I won my first ‘Best in Show’ award.

PHOTO HERE:
Unknown. Hartwick Art Show. Oneonta, New York. 2018

Website: https://the-art-therapy-lady.square.site/

Instagram: abbysaesthetics

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abigail-cerne-ma-lpc-atr-ncc-806125163

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAb2O78VtQ8250LqeEQSRAA

Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/abigail-abby-cerne-boulder-co/1218368

Image Credits
(in order)

Kira Fisher. Highland Cow Flower Field. Jay, New York. 2023

Abby Cerne. Art Therapy Studio. Boulder, Colorado. 2023.
Philip Cerne. Sewing at the Kitchen Table. Plattsburgh, New York. 2007.
Abby Cerne. 1956 Kenmore with Good Bones. Boulder, Colorado. 2024.
Elsa Bock-Barnum. Big Pot. Oneonta, New York. 2017.
Sergio Cisneros. Hartwick Ceramics Studio. Oneonta, New York. 2016.
Abby Cerne. Art Therapy Lady. Boulder, Colorado. 2024.
Abby Cerne. Mean Muggin. Boulder, Colorado. 2024
Abby Cerne. Jorts. Boulder, Colorado. 2024. (has no place in article but can be plugged in for break)
Unknown. Hartwick Art Show. Oneonta, New York. 2018