Teen Takeover

In 2022, 52% of all U.S. adults created or performed art according to a survey by the National Endowment for the Arts. Most of these adults may consider art as a pastime or part of their careers. For the youth, however, art plays a pivotal role in their journey of self-discovery. We interviewed seven brilliant high school artists at The Art Center to understand how art has influenced their personal and professional lives.

Swim in the Fruit of Your Own Purity by Eshan

Not Just A Hobby

Some students follow art through their professional lives. For example, Eshan joined The Art Center after being rejected from art school; he is now an accomplished painter and sculptor who travels for shows and does freelance. Because of this, he hopes to study art and related theories in the future. Others such as Prinsha and Aarav explore their passions through their art. Prinsha prefers performing arts rather than visual arts and plays piano and violin. She also enjoys graphic design, all of which are “safe havens” in her life. Similarly, illustrator and painter Aarav claims “my art often depicts things I enjoy or have learned about or interested in like automotive car sketches.” These students use art as an extension of their personalities to accomplish long-term goals in their professional and personal lives, making it more than just a pastime.

Academic Advantage

Many students credit their artistic abilities for their creative thinking, but to potters like Sejal and Liana, art is critical to their academic and extracurricular lives. According to Sejal, who deals with the intricacies of wheel-thrown pottery, “My art has made me a more careful, detail-oriented student and person. I am able to pay better attention to the world around me because of my art.” Likewise, Alisha claims “Art has impacted my life greatly by making school projects easier to do, and making them neater too! It also gives me a good brain break when I’m stressed.” On the other hand, Liana’s experience stems beyond just the classroom, claiming that “My love of art has me involved with extracurricular activities at school that allow me to help others in the search for their own creativity.” As such, to Sejal and Liana, art is more than just another activity to them: it's a lens that shapes how they observe the world and connect with their peers.

Inner Voice

Art goes beyond just enhancing one’s understanding of the world; it allows young minds to discover themselves and navigate their own beliefs. To Alisha, art helps her convey her emotions and ideas, and according to Mae, “I use art as a way to express myself. I use art to understand and represent my feelings and who I am as a whole.” Thus, for many students, art becomes a second voice to show the world who they are. Eshan also embodies this idea; he states that “My art speaks on politics, popular culture and irony similar to the way I speak and think; my art is a direct reflection of my thoughts, takes, and beliefs.” Because of this, The Art Center doesn’t just teach people how to draw or paint; it is the bridge between creation and self-discovery, which is especially important for teenagers and the youth. In Prinsha’s words, “Getting to meet and work with so many different kids has really expanded my world view and changed my perspective.”

For children, art is an activity. For adults, art is a passion. But for teenagers, art is a compass. It is an exploratory tool that helps them understand themselves and where they want to go in life. Additionally, it lets students exercise essential skills that tie into academic and professional success, including confidence, patience, attention to detail, observational skills, and the ability to visualize plans from start to finish. Thus, The Art Center strives to foster these abilities in our teenage artists while giving them a sense of community and inclusion that cannot be found elsewhere.