.svg)
.svg)
EXHIBITION
An interactive exploration that captures a diverse range of emotions in art through the lens of middle and high school student-artists.
About the Exhibition
Students' social emotional learning and development takes centerstage in this stand-out exhibition focused on how art helps us all recognize, understand, and express emotions.
- Distinctively adapts the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence's RULER Approach in the context of cARTie.
- Student art explores the relationship between emotion and art.
- Students challenge the viewer to and push their own bounds and use art to process and express emotions of their own.
- Close looking and discussion about the works on view supports critical and creative thinking, as well as emotional intelligence.
Theme selected by cARTie's Student Advisory Board, comprising: Ava Basile, Phoebe DeOreo, Hannah Gourad, Nate Kolek, Casey Lerner, Arianna Martinez, Avni Mittal, Claire Osiecki, Dereje Tarrant, Alejandro Ramos
cARTie's 2024 Jurying Committee included: Melissa Alves, Adrianne Carter-Brown, Lalah Carter-Brown, Vivi Carter-Brown, Jackie Lema, Luís Gutierrez, Holly Hawthorn, Mimi Houston, Richard Jochum, Stella Jochum, Elizabeth Katz, Nate Kolek, Brian Lamy, Carl Lewandowski, Kathy Mattern, Tish Murray, Nick Perrone, Gabrielle Watson, Lucy Watson, and Andrea Yankovich
Content Consultancy: Dr. Zorana Ivcevic Pringle (Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence)
Design Consultancy: Nate Kolek (RISD'25)
Welcome to the Gallery:
Emotion In Art
Sunday Morning
Genesis
2024
Digital Photography
This is a vertically-oriented photograph showing a textured curtain with signs of sunrise behind and a blooming flower. The artist was trying to represent the hope of a new day.
Quiet Desperation
Anna
2024
Acrylic
This is a vertically-oriented painting of a teenage girl slouched against a line of tall blue lockers in a busy school hall with shadowy, distorted figures passing by while her backpack is open and materials are scattered all around. The artist wanted to contrast how well-kept the girl appears with her inner turmoil and hope for freedom from suffering.
Heart-Broken
Izayah Andrew
2024
Clay
This is a square ceramic work of art with a red heart showing scratches and tears, atop a blue background. The artist wanted to show what it feels like to just get out of a relationship but know their heart will survive.
Curiosity
Sebastian
2024
Clay
This is a standing ceramic work of art that shows a blue figure with exaggerated blue eyes reaching over a brown brick wall. The artist wanted to tell a story about feeling curious when others say your name on another side of a wall.
Work
Dayanara
2024
Alcohol markers
This is a horizontally-oriented marker drawing of a person holding a superbly-tall, leaning stack of books and two flying sheets of paper atop a black background with red outlines. The artist wanted to show how weighed down they feel trying to get perfect grades.
Beach Shadows
Harper
2023
Paint
This is a vertically-oriented painting that shows black rocks and shadows on a yellow beach with calm, blue water ahead. The artist hopes you feel calm thinking about the beach ahead.
Vacation Take Off
Olivia
2021
Painting
This is a horizontally-oriented painting that shows a yellow sun rising above gray and white clouds with an orange and red background. The artist hopes you feel like you are riding on an airplane to somewhere warm.
Blank face
Phoebe
2024
Gouache on paper
This is a vertically-oriented painting that shows a caucasian white woman's face atop a tan background that appears emotionless. The artist hopes you feel some kind of emotion thinking about someone in this state.
Mother
Anna
2024
Acrylic on a 24x36 inch canvas
This is a vertically-oriented painting showing a waterfall amidst a dense forest and green basin. The artist wanted to show a natural landscape scene that allowed them to experiment with different techniques and values in each part.
Week of Wonders
Evelina
2024
Digital Artwork
This is a square digital work of art that shows two Caucasian girls peeking from behind a tall, think brown tree in a light green forest. The artist intended for this piece to have a nostalgic feel.
The blackout phase
Alison
2024
Digital Photography
This is a vertically-oriented photograph that is entirely black and white except for the the central girl who is wearing a bright green tank top and holding a stuffed brown money and vanilla soft serve. The artist took this picture for the memory of walking down the park an enjoying an ice cream with friends.
In Awe
Dereje
2024
Mixed media with spray paint and acrylic paint.
This is an almost-square mixed media work of art created primarily with spray paint that shows a Black teenager wearing glasses and expressing awe with the word "awe" written in purple block letters above. The artist wanted to use both text and imagery to convey the emotion of awe.
Happy
Kerializ
2024
Clay
This is a oval-shaped, flat ceramic work of art that shows a Caucasian boy smiling with brown hair and black lines for eyes, freckles, and a wide smile. The artist wanted to show how happy they are thinking about their family.
Serious
Devin
2024
Clay
This is a vertically-oriented ceramic bust of a brown face with black hair and serious-looking emotion. The artist based their piece on a video game character with a serious expression.
Starbaby
Maysalee
2024
Mixed media on canvas
This is a square mixed media work of art that shows a Caucasian face inside a animal with wings underneath a whimsical brown tree in front of a brownish-green background. The artist wanted to create a self-portrait about rebirth, growth, and self-importance.
Overwhelmed
Amanda
2024
Clay
This is a vertically-oriented ceramic figure painted orange who is holding their arms up to cover their head. The artist wanted to show how they feel being overwhelmed in high school.
Depression Chair
Nathaniel
2024
Clay
This is a vertically-oriented ceramic work of art showing a Caucasian teenager slumped over, sitting on a brown chair, with a black long-sleeve t-shirt. The artist wanted to show how it feels to be depressed and joining the "black sheep."
Relaxing
Safaa
2024
Clay
This is a ceramic work of art showing a small white figure in a purple suit and red beret sitting atop a green circle focused on reading their open book. The artist wanted to show themselves as a child sitting, reading, and relaxing.
Scared
Gabriel
2024
Clay
This is a vertically-oriented ceramic work of art showing a cat getting scared by a tall brown bunny atop an orange base. The artist wanted to show what it feels like to get scared.
Grief
Julianna
2024
Digital photo
This is a vertically-oriented photograph of two shadows with fingers outstretched to form a heart on the ground in front of a memorial with flowers and a sign that says "forever in our hearts." The artist wanted to show the love they have for their friend who passed away at a very young age.
The Wolf's Spirit
Matt
2024
Paint markers
This is a vertically-oriented drawing of a wolf with a crescent moon and amorphous clouds behind. The artist wanted to tell a story about their dog Kiki who passed away but like a wolf was always there to help through dark times during the night.
New Beginnings
Kerwnny
2024
Digital photo
This is a vertically-oriented photograph that focuses on blooming pink flowers with a bright blue background. The artist was excited to show the vibrance of these flowers.
Sonder
Kerwnny
2024
Digital photo
This is a vertically-oriented photograph of a tall teenager looking up amidst bright city lights with a black backpack and cellphone from behind. The artist wanted to show that everyone is living their own world.
Pretty Brown Eyes
Siena
2024
Acrylic paint
This is a horizontally-oriented painting that shows two brown eyes with fire inside with yellowish-orange skin around and thick black eyebrows. The artist hopes this piece reflects destruction around a person and how it affects them.
Hidden
Siena
2024
acrylic paint
This is a vertically-oriented painting of a red-hooded figure with black bangs and red eyes in front of pink background. The artist wanted to convey a relatable feeling through an abstract art piece.
The Little Boy who Loves Green
Priya
2023
Colored pencil, embossed paper, watercolor, chalk pastel
This is a vertically-oriented mixed media work of art that shows a highly-detailed portrait of a young Black boy wearing a blue t-shirt in front of a textured, green background. The artist wanted to use warm colors to complement the boy's vibrant smile.
Essential Tremor Egg Drop
Priya
2023
Gouache, pen, toned tan paper, acrylic
This is a horizontally-oriented mixed media work of art that shows a small half Korean and half Caucasian girl in a purple-blue dress with a felt hat holding a silver spoon after an egg has fallen to the ground in front of her with a brown background and curving yellow lines. The artist was trying to represent a childhood memory of doing races where you balance an egg in a spoon and try not to drop it, but she had not yet been diagnosed with a tremor and was frustrated with her shaky hands.
Born to a Palestinian Womb
Safa
2024
Mixed Media Sculpture
This is a vertically-oriented photograph speaking out about the conflict in Gaza. The artist uses mixed media to represent a tragic moment and reminds the view that Gaza's Health Ministry recently reported a staggering 20,057 deaths from the conflict, with over 50,000 people wounded. The artist further states: "It's so tempting to tune out the noise and ignore what's happening in Palestine, but what if you were a mother in Gaza grieving the loss of her baby, someone who fought so hard with 580 injections? What if you were that young boy, forced to face life with amputated legs because there seemed to be no other way? Imagine living in Gaza. Would you be okay with the world turning a blind eye to your struggle for freedom?"
A pieceful day in the city of Miami
Trioni
2024
iPhone 14
This is a vertically-oriented photograph, taken coming back from Bahamas on a cruise at 5 in the morning at the dock of Miami.
Light in the Darkness
Savannah
2024
Digital Photo
This is a vertically-oriented photograph showing light emerging amidst dark clouds. The artist shares: "the darkness is the sky, and the brightness coming through is that no matter how dark it may get, there is always something good to come out of it. On a bad day, there is the light coming through the clouds."
.jpg)
Calda tramoto (warm sunset in italian)
Silas
2024
Photography
This is a vertically-oriented photograph taken on an afternoon drive after an successful track meet.
Golden Windows
David
2024
Porta 800 35mm film, with a 28mm lens on a Pentax spotomatic F.
This is a horizontally-oriented photograph of light coming through windows, hitting wooden ceiling beams. The artist shares: "this comes the morning after a cold night in my family's quaint cabin in Maine. I was drinking hot cocoa when I leaned back and noticed the stunning light on the ceiling. Within seconds I had snapped the photo, and knew it was a good one. This was during a trip whose main focus was to capture eclipse photos. I find it funny that perhaps the best photo of the trip was practically an accident. The geometry and lighting from the window make this photo what it is. The almost abstract shape alongside the golden color of morning light on beautiful aged wood causes feelings of serenity and happiness. It is almost like a sunset to our brain."
Almonds on the Food Scale
Cora
2024
Gouache, colored pencils, watered down acrylic
This is a vertically-oriented mixed media work of almonds on a kitchen scale. The artist used this piece to work through perpetuated disordered eating ideologies that she grew up around.
Terrence
Miley
2024
Photography
This is a vertically-oriented photograph of a bright blue sky and dark ground, during dusk. The artist recounts that "this photo represents me having a sad composure but also a peaceful moment. Terrence is one of my good friends from the 3rd grade. Now we are in high school. Even though we argue, we are pretty close. And having a friend like Terrence makes me a better person."
Overbooked
Avni
2024
Colored Pencil
This is a horizontally-oriented colored pencil drawing showing the enormous amount of work that students have to complete during high school experience. Through toppled textbooks, the artist wanted "to convey the overwhelming feeling that students experience. Additionally the little stick figures on the books convey how small the students are compared to all the work."
Lake in the summer
Allison
2024
Digital Photography
This is a vertically-oriented photograph of a lake scene. The artist recounts: "I went with my family to this lake to go fishing. I remember this day being so fun and peaceful because we had so much fun by playing games and swimming. I remember later on that day my friends came over to join us. Then I sat on these huge rocks and then I thought 'this view looks so nice, lemme take a picture real quick' and I took it. Then I saved the photo."
The Misogynist Choke
Hyla
2023
Ceramics
This is a pink-painted ceramic piece standing for women's rights in present day America. The artist has been infuriated that "The Supreme Court just overturned the Roe v. Wade ruling and tore away a woman's control over her own body... This governmental injustice, in my opinion, is a calculated attempt to gain more power over women. It may be symbolically described as an oppressive black chain that confines women (who are represented by the color pink) while absorbing their sense of self power, and conveniently functioning in the shadows where they cant be confronted."
I am so honored to have cARTie choose my work because it makes me fulfilled to think I can inspire a kid like me to get out there and create”
Dereje, 2024 Featured Student-Artist
See More Exhibitions
Every year, we rotate in a new exhibition of artwork created by a diverse range of students across Connecticut.
Emotion In Art
An interactive exploration that captures a diverse range of emotions in art through the lens of middle and high school student-artists.
Explore Exhibition
The Power of Art as Language
Our landmark student-artist exhibition emerging out of an exchange between Deaf students in Connecticut and Kenya, looking at the power of art as our universal language.
Explore Exhibition
What Comes Next?
An intriguing exhibition of middle and high school student art that considers the most deeply concerning questions in students' lives.
Explore Exhibition
What Does it Mean to Be a Kid During the Pandemic?
A timely exploration of how students perceive the Pandemic and what it means to be a kid during these troubling times, especially.
Explore Exhibition
Introducing cARTie
Our first-ever juried student art exhibition stands as a testament to the value of picking up a pencil, a piece of paper, a stash of paints, a roll of film, a ball of clay, and so forth.
Explore Exhibition
Apply To Our Student Exhibition
Have the opportunity to be featured in our art museum bus in our next juried art show.
Get NotifiedDonate Today
Your donation will help us bring art and museum education to more students across Connecticut.
Get Art and Museum Inspiration Delivered To Your Inbox Every Month
And learn about upcoming events, artist calls, and more ways you can get involved.
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Copyright © 2025 cARTie