What unique artistic practices have teachers and student artists developed in classrooms across Southern Arizona? What ideas do young artists want to express, and how do they do it through art? Artworks are chosen for the exhibition and submitted by local high school teachers.
This annual exhibition showcases the creativity and artistic achievement of high school artists across Tucson and Pima County. We are thrilled to highlight the technical skill and creative thought that these young artists possess.
Five participating artists are also chosen to receive the Outstanding Emerging High School Artist Award, selected by a jury of faculty from the University of Arizona School of Art and UAMA staff. In partnership with the School of Art, we are excited to offer $1,000 tuition awards to any Outstanding Emerging High School Artist awardee who enrolls as a BA or BFA major at the School of Art in the next two years. Jurors will judge artworks based on craft, originality, overall composition, and development of the idea or concept.
If you are interested in participating, please review the submission guidelines and contact Willa Ahlschwede, Assistant Curator of Education & Public Programs, with any questions.
Outstanding Emerging Artist Award Winners (in alphabetical order)
Gwen Alviar, Boxed. | Catalina Foothills High School, Teacher: Zoe Reinhardt
Portia Bentley, Daughters of Cain | Walden Grove High School, Teacher: Tracy Brown
Brenton Delp, All Your Heart's Desire | Ironwood Ridge High School, Teacher: Eileen Rubelmann
Sophia Gladieux, Small Moments | Ironwood Ridge High School, Teacher: Eileen Rubelmann
Paula Solorzano, Deflated Balloon | Salpointe Catholic High School, Teacher: Lisa Krikawa
Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order)
Sienna Crumbley, Flower Nicho | Rincon High School, Teacher: Amy Wood
Reagan Dinsdale, Pizza Cat & Burger Cat | Ironwood Ridge High School, Teacher: Jill Menaugh
Sophie Koren, Carnival of The Animals | Empire High School, Teacher: Ben Koss
Samantha Turnage, Brothers From Another Mother | Sabino High School, Teacher: Leva Daly
Thank you to the jurors of the Outstanding Emerging Artist Award for 2024:
Colin Blakely | Director, UA School of Art
Carlton Bradford | Associate Professor, 3D, UA School of Art
Jenn Liv | Assistant Professor, Illustration, Design, and Animation, UA School of Art
Alejandro Macias | Assistant Professor, 2D, UA School of Art
Sara Swayden | Archivist, UA Museum of Art and Archive of Visual Arts
