The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers has selected four King School visual artists for Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The awards are the nation’s longest-running and most prestigious recognition for creative teens and boast a long list of notable alumni, including Truman Capote, Andy Warhol, Tracy Reese, and Lena Dunham.
Cece Campbell ’26 and Sydney Hauben ’25 won Gold Keys, Olivia Rodrigues ’25 was awarded a Silver key, and Charlotte Janney ’24 received an Honorable Mention.
“These students have demonstrated exceptional talent, dedication, and creativity in their respective artistic endeavors, " said Chair of Art and Design Department Brady Shoemaker. “I'm so proud of the art students and our Art and Design Department.”
Students are encouraged to explore topics that will heighten their understanding of themselves and the wider world. They also find their voice and gain confidence.
Cece entered “The Painter’s Hand,” a realistic sculpture of a hand holding a paintbrush. Sydney’s piece, “Hamster World,” incorporated mixed mediums to depict Earth surrounded by galaxies and a hamster running along its side. Olivia’s installation piece, “Reflection,” features mirrors and various makeup compacts. Charlotte created a ceramic teapot with a leaping fox serving as its handle: the “Fox Teapot.”
Creative expression takes an intellectual approach in the King art program. Projects are infused with social, cultural, and historical reflections, and students are encouraged and supported as they explore scholarly topics through different mediums.
Throughout this school year, Olivia has worked to shed light on the impact of societal beauty standards and social norms. Some of the mirrors in her installation were cracked, and the compacts reflected a variety of skin tones. She interviewed women about being objectified and carved words they used into the makeup powders.
“Words really can break and destroy someone mentally and physically,” she said, adding that the broken mirrors were arranged so that the viewer was forced to see their reflection in the shattered glass. “I wanted the viewer to look at my installation and feel uncomfortable and disturbed.”
Olivia hopes that her piece evokes emotion and brings progress.
“Forcing people to look at something that makes them feel these emotions is important so they can come to the realization of why they feel that way and maybe lead to a change in our society,” she said.
Olivia’s ability to see and communicate these ideas through her artwork has evolved over time. She credits the support of her peers and teachers for her growth, adding that their honest critiques have been as helpful as their positive encouragement.
“Their constructive criticism has made my art grow into pieces more amazing than I could have ever imagined,” she said. “I had to work to not let the fear of other people's opinions stop me from sharing my own opinions and perspectives, this was a real challenge for me. With the art department and everyone in it, I was able to overcome that fear. This has allowed me to go deeper in my research and experience greater personal growth with my art.”
To further bolster the growing confidence of these artists, their work is on display through Friday, February 2, at the Hartford Art School.
“This award gives me the confidence that the art I'm making is truly getting people to think about and want change,” said Olivia. “I feel hopeful that this piece and the pieces to come will motivate people to work toward a better world for our generation and for the ones to come.”
The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers is a nonprofit organization committed to identifying students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and raising the visibility of their work through the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. The awards give students opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication, and scholarships. Jurors review entries without knowledge of the student’s gender, age, ethnicity, or hometown, looking instead for originality, skill, and the emergence of a personal vision.