Abnel Rodríguez Quiles was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico on March 13, 1964. In his youth, his interest in art led him to pursue studies in drawing and painting. While living in New York City, he studied illustration, graphic art and design at the prestigious Pratt Institute. In 1990, Abnel graduated from the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan with a major in Fine Arts.

Along the course of his career, he has worked as an illustrator, designer, translator and editor for various publishing and communications agencies, and has received several honors for his drawings, paintings and artistic vision. Abnel's work appears in the recently published Images of Ambiente: Homotextuality and Latin American Art, 1810-Today by Rudi C. Bleys. Being the main photographer of this FireIslandInvasion.com's 2002 and 2003 Invasion Galleries and the Fire Island Invasion 2003 Calendar is just another form of expressing his creativity, pride and love of freedom.

"Last week, while sitting with a friend in Tompkins Square Park, a group of people went by and yelled: "You sodomites." I was stunned. I couldn't believe that there were still people who had that kind of mentality.It's time to rise and live. It's time to feel good about who we are. Those who hide themselves cannot be happy."
- Abnel Rodríguez