A native of San Diego, California, Abel Aguirre began his career as a self-taught artist, inspired by the barrio art and surfside aesthetics of Southern California. His early themes drew from the fantasy worlds of his favorite 1980s TV shows—programs like Gumby and Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, whose handmade, make-believe environments captivated his imagination. Since then, Abel has used his art to create his own whimsical worlds—pretend places where everyone is welcome, offering a respite from the drama of everyday life.

In 1999, Abel left San Diego to enlist in the U.S. Navy as an Information Systems Technician. Trained as a cybersecurity professional, he spent the next 20 years safeguarding Navy networks as a firewall administrator.

Abel retired from active duty in 2020 in San Antonio, Texas, and went on to enroll at Our Lady of the Lake University as a Visual Arts and New Media undergraduate. Since graduating with his Bachelor of Arts degree in 2024, he has participated in various group and solo exhibitions, as well as community art projects.