Well Hello!
Thanks for stopping by.
Hello! I’m Abbey Sempebwa, the founder of Abbey Thee Curator (ATC). My journey into the fascinating realms of museums, art, and history began in 2021. Fueled by excitement and a deep passion for discovery, I found myself eager to share the incredible things I was learning and the questions that sparked my curiosity. This desire to educate and connect with others led to the creation of ATC.
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At ATC, we offer bite-sized, five-minute lessons that make learning both enjoyable and accessible. I blend my diverse interests with community requests and questions, ensuring that our content resonates with everyone—whether you’re a busy mom, a middle school student, a fitness enthusiast, or a PhD scholar. This diverse and inclusive approach is the cornerstone of our brand.
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I bring a multidisciplinary expertise across a wide array of cultures and historical periods, including Egyptology, Holocaust studies, European history and art, and the Classics. My interdisciplinary approach integrates insights from anthropology, archaeology, art history, and museum studies, allowing me to explore and connect diverse fields seamlessly. This comprehensive knowledge enables me to cover topics from every continent with depth and a unique perspective. Rest assured, all ATC content is crafted and verified using scholarly sources, guaranteeing accuracy and reliability.
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Join me on virtual museum tours, explore curated book recommendations, enjoy classical music selections, and stay informed with the latest news in history and museums. I love debunking myths, engaging with our community through polls and quizzes, and sharing accounts that you’ll love.
Key Experience
2024-Present
Monuments Men and Women Foundation
2021-Present
Oklahoma Public Archaeology Network
June 2023-January 2024
Collections & Conservation Assistant
- Addressing art leads as they come, properly organizing them, and initiating research when necessary.
- Assist with research on some cases with wartime provenance concerns.
- Initiate the inventorying of the Foundation's vast photographic collection.
- Served as a teaching assistant in the first ever cohort of OKPAN's mentoring program, Voices of Oklahoma. In recognition of the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre, I worked with a group of ten Black high school students from the Tulsa area, who learned about archaeology, the history of the massacre, and how archaeology is being used to locate and identify victims of the massacre.
- Mentoring students who join new cohorts of the Voices program. Meeting once a week to answer archaeology questions or concerns about the class, help them find resources for their goals that go beyond the program after its conclusion.
- Worked as a collections and conservation assistant and on a project designed to clean over 4,000 objects that had been adversely affected by an environmental disaster.
- Trained by a conservator to vacuum and clean objects covered in dust. Worked independently once fully trained.
- Object handling - moved objects from storage to carts in preparation for cleaning, and triaged cleaned objects for return to storage shelving.
To read more of my work and experience, download my CV below!
Education
2024-Present
Texas Christian University, MA, Art History
2021-2024
Harvard University, MLA, Museum Studies
2017-2021
University of Oklahoma, BA, Multidisciplinary Studies
Concentration in Italian Renaissance Art.
I gained hands-on skills in object handling, registration, and preservation, learning how to properly document and protect collections. I also delved into ethical questions surrounding repatriation, provenance, and art crime, honing my ability to address controversial issues with transparency. Meanwhile, I studied exhibit design and interpretation, ensuring that I could create engaging and inclusive displays. Finally, I explored the business side of museums, examining budgeting, fundraising, and sustainability to better navigate the managerial realities of cultural institutions.
Multidisciplinary Studies degree I created with concentrations in history, art history, and anthropology.
