Abigail Santos
Artist-in-Residence
The Gift of He(art)
2026 | Mixed media on canvas
Abigail Santos is a Jacksonville-based artist whose family is from the Philippines. Her work explores connection, relationships, and identity, often through painting, graphite, pens, and an increasingly illustrative approach. Abigail first joined AWAHIH as an intern in 2018, later volunteered and worked part time, and has been a full-time Artist-in-Residence since 2021.
Using her own hands in a giving posture, Abigail brings together a recurring subject from her early art practice with memories accumulated throughout her years of creating with patients.
In Her Own Words
How did you become involved with Art with a Heart in Healthcare?
I started as an intern in 2018. I liked it so much, I didn’t know how to leave. I volunteered for a short amount of time, then I worked part time, and now I have been full time since 2021.
What are you most drawn to in your personal art practice?
I love working with two-dimensional mediums such as paints, graphite, and pens. Brush pens have been the medium I’m gravitating toward lately.
I also love surrealism and ideas of fantasy. I love the illusions that can be created.
How would you describe the way you create?
Lately I’m in a season where I’m enjoying a more illustrative style. I love drawing coloring sheets for patients. That way, when they color the sheets, it feels like a collaboration.
Tell us about The Gift of He(art).
The inspiration comes from my perspective as an Artist-in-Residence. What we do is truly a gift and a blessing, so I hope we continue to pass it along to the patients, families, and staff members we work with.
When I was studying art in college, my focus was figure drawing, specifically human hands and the representation of relationships using hands. I wanted to incorporate that into this piece as a reminder that my journey started with an internship as a college student.
The hands are mine, and they are in a giving posture. Out of the hands come all sorts of memories I’ve had with patients, such as creating coloring sheets, pet portraits, origami, painting, and more. It represents the care I give to my work and to the patients and families I work with.
What do you hope viewers take away from it?
I hope they see the fun, creativity, and love that come with being an Artist-in-Residence. I hope it brings some kind of happiness or joy to others.
