Karen Abe (she/they) is a Hawaiʻi born media artist, creative producer, and community organizer with a passion for leveraging creativity as a catalyst for social change. Grounded in a background in legislative work, Karen utilizes her expertise in video, graphic, and interactive design to craft impactful narratives that challenge societal norms and spark audience curiosity.
 

With a B.A. from the University of Southern California’s Media Arts + Practice program, Karen stands at the helm as the CEO and Creative Director of PROD K CREATIVE — a multimedia agency dedicated to uplifting local businesses and non-profits through innovative storytelling. In addition, Karen champions collaboration and accessibility as a Project Manager for open-source initiatives like the Processing Foundation and Open Source Arts Contributors Conference Organizer Committee. If not at her decorated work-desk, you can find Karen playing pickleball with her local Aunties or sunbathing on Hawaii's shores.

As exemplified in her BA thesis project “A Home: Not Paradise,” and paper presented at the ACM (Association of Computing Machinery) CHI conference, Karen has a passion for leading research-based projects exploring critical issues such as settler colonialism, militarism, and tourism in Hawaiʻi. Through her endeavors, Karen aims to challenge dominant historical narratives and advocate for marginalized voices within her community.

A testament to her dedication and talent, Karen's work has garnered recognition, including being named a finalist for Digital Entertainment Group's Hedy Lamarr Award for Innovation in Entertainment Technology. Yet, what truly sets Karen apart is her unwavering commitment to her home community. With seven years of advocacy and leadership experience in Hawaiʻi, Karen has championed multiple environmental bills in the Hawaiʻi and in 2020, she was appointed by the Speaker of the House as one of the 15 inaugural members of the Hawaiʻi State Youth Commission, serving as a vital youth voice in legislation.