He attended President William McKinley High School, where he took art lessons from Shirley Ximena Hopper Russell.

In Hawaii Abe met local artist Isami Doi, who would become a close friend and mentor.

[4] During these few years in Hawaii, Abe also formed the Metcalf Chateau with Bumpei Akaji, Edmund Chung, Tetsuo Ochikubo, Jerry T. Okimoto, James Park, and Tadashi Sato.

[1] In 1956, Abe returned to New York and found a creative home at the SculptureCenter, where his work attracted the attention of gallery owners and others.

[8][9] Abe is best known for his sculptures of abstracted natural forms, many of which resemble trees, such as East and West in the collection of the Hawaii State Art Museum.