About The Artist

Hi There,

My name is Emily Leslie Moran, AKA Abby Normal. I am a fine artist and silversmith located in Providence, Rhode Island. I am a woman living with level 1 Autism Spectrum Condition, Dyslexia, & ADHD; experiences from these conditions have deeply impacted my work, my love of education, and obsession with developmental psychology. 

I earned my BFA in Painting from the Maryland Institute Collage of Art in 2019, and obtained my MAT through the Rhode Island School of Design’s TLAD program in 2021. As much as I loved working with children and teens, I learned very quickly that traditional teaching and the current environment we pressure children to fit into were not for me. So I left teaching to pursue my childhood passion, fine jewelry.

I spent 3 years training in retail and manufacturing as a jeweler. I worked under a master jeweler as an apprentice and then as a bench jeweler working on gold, silver and platinum pieces for luxury brands such as Tiffany & Co, Coach and Signet. I learned how to work under a microscope, set stones, clean, repair different pieces, assemble, torch solder (laser too!), polish, create molds and electroplate among many other skills. Outside of work, I learned on my own and have been constantly building my own bench setup/ jewelry studio to create independent work. I have sold work at local New England Art Markets such as Girl Gang Craft (NE Chapter), and Ghost Ship Market where I have met so many wonderful clients and fellow artists. I have even branched out into working with local retailers such as Mister Sister Erotica, Providence and collaborating with other artists and designers to create more compelling work as a team. I love to make jewelry, because I get to do what I love, and build a meaningful relationship with a client to create something someone will love just as much if not more than I will.

When creating 2D work, I focus on portraiture, creepy cute animals, divine femininity, fetishism/ objectification, vulgar kitschiness, body horror, personal experiences and just general levels of “gothiness”. All of course with a sense of humor thrown in.  The majority of my 2D work is done from reference and life, using alla prima and indirect oil painting techniques, watercolor, pen & ink and graphite. I will often pour my fine art abilities into my jewelry practice, garment construction and non-traditional supports to combine commodities with fine art. I am inspired by unique expressions of femininity, nature, psychology, RPG games, horror and romatic literature and films, collecting records, a childhood growing up in the strange beauty of the Bridgewater Triangle, and of course my incredible fiancé, Drew!