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EXHIBITION
A thought-provoking exhibition of multiple interpretations and many ways of seeing and thinking about art by middle and high school student-artists.
About the Exhibition
This exhibition prompts looking closely and critically at art, as many ways of seeing and thinking unfold. Student-artists grapple with complicated subject matter and ideas, and through their art, they invite you to keep trying to take another perspective.
- When we look at art, we assume everyone sees what we see, but that is not always true.
- The same works of art can be seen and interpreted in different ways.
- In the words of Reggio Children: “There are many eyes, many minds, many ways of perceiving.”
- Being able to see and appreciate many ways of seeing and thinking lays the foundation for empathy.
Theme and Thought Leadership by cARTie’s Student Advisory Board.
Co-Curated by cARTie’s Student Advisory Board and Family Advisory Board.
Juried by cARTie’s 2025 Jurying Committee.
Design by cARTie’s Curriculum Development Intern, Sam Sutton, and Executive Director, Clare Murray. Additional Design Consultancy by cARTie Board Member, Nate Kolek.
Welcome to the Gallery:
Many Ways of Seeing and Thinking
Light over the darkness
Maria
2025
Digital
This illustration can lead to multiple questions such as, why did the butterfly decided to pose on the guy instead of the flower? For me, this represents growth, the boy appears to be a teenager which is a growing stage, and the butterfly has already passed all the growth stages, she poses on the guy to show that now is his moment to grow just like her and the flower did. This piece relates to the theme because even if some elements are given, not everything has to mean the same thing to everyone. It means growth to me, but it can mean connection with nature to others, or even something more spiritual such as the soul being divided into different shapes:the flower, the butterfly, and the guy; showing the different ways your soul can be seen like.
Melting Heart
Maria
2025
Digital
To me, this piece shows the emotional overwhelm that slowly leads to drowning. The heart shaped candle is slowly melting by the fired that could represent different situations, harmful comments, and bad decisions that create a consequence. I've talked to peers about what my drawing can mean, and one cought my attention: "The heart represents love, and the flame is what keeps the love working" eventually the flame will get tired and will stop trying, love will fade into the water without any trace of it.
Sun and Moon
Abbygail
2025
Digital
I interpret it as showing how something can be so similar and different at the same time. The sun and the moon and considered opposites and people have many different feelings about each of them. People know more about the moon than they do about the sun because no one has been able to visit the sun because of how hot it is, however people are more comfortable in the sunlight even thought they don't know as much about the sun.
Bee Hive
Chloe
2025
Clay
You can think about this beehive in many different ways. It can show different emotions, whether it is happy and more like something to bring you up mentally, or it is something that shows how much you have to work on, and you can think about it in a stressful way.
Sunny
Jenna
2025
Collage
With how simple of an artwork this is, it can be interpreted many different ways. With this sun, the rain, and the hands all being conflicting factors of the piece, anyone can see a scenario they’ve been through in this piece.
Rhiannon
Henry
2025
Acrylic
I was thinking about how I wanted to capture my dog in a painting. I wanted it to look cute which is why I added a slight head tilt and a bandana.
Wish Dragon
Basmina
2025
Acrylic
I’m interested in exploring different cultures and their symbolic artifacts, especially the Chinese dragon, which I’ve encountered often through film and history. This piece began with the Chinese water dragon as a reference, but I reimagined it by adding elements not traditionally associated with it—like horns, three ears, facial jewels, and vibrant colors—to create my own spiritual entity. Through this transformation, the dragon becomes a space for multiple interpretations, blending cultural symbolism with personal mythology.
The Feeling of Nature
Shaista
2025
Acrylic
This painting is not just about the representation of the girl looking at the sunset. It's also about the physical and mental feelings that we get from being in nature.
Flowers
Shaista
2025
Acrylic
The flowers hold cultural and personal meaning to me. I painted flowers also because I love flowers in general. All of these things are true at the same time, but may not be apparent right away to the viewer, if they do not know who I am personally.
Outlook
Ava
2025
Papier mâché
While many would view this penguin as being alone, Outlook is not. She is looking out on everything surrounding her. The interpretations of this piece revolve around the view from her eyes and how you see him on the icebergs.
Tomfoolery
Talia
2025
Ink, watercolor
This piece relates to the prompt "Multiple Interpretations" by showing my interpretation of a blank tile and repeating pattern. By viewing the tile, I interpreted its shape into a wizard.
Sunrise Midnight
Jeremiah
2025
Acrylic
I like that people can view the art however they like.
Pieces of Me
Tyra
2025
Prisma colored pencil
This piece shows how the reflection of a single interpretation can change how a person views themselves. The fragmentation and lack of reflection as a whole represent the feeling of being less than or more than through others' interpretations of oneself.
Pieces of Light
Tyra
2025
Acrylic, paint markers, prisma colored pencils
The black and white contrast, compared to the vivid background, shows the focus on growth and change. This is emphasized in the missing pieces of the puzzle as well as the misplaced pieces having the same background but different styles and colors. The bright, empty background represents the change that is coming.
Visual Dizziness
Genesis
2025
Drawing
I think my piece of art relates to "Multiple Interpretations" since it brings the idea of different patterns when you look at it. It shows the optical art but also when the you move your eye around it makes you dizzy because of the different lines and illusion it creates. It not only makes you dizzy but makes you trave your eye around it and notice the tiny and big patterns that are multiple interpretations.
Oslanda
Phoebe
2025
Papier mâché
My interpretation of this piece is showing how you need to have fun in life. Since Ostriches mostly have stern and serious expressions, this piece shows how it’s important to always be yourself, no matter anyone’s opinion.
Different variations of bears
Ariyanna
2025
Digital art
I chose bears because I have so many stuffed animals bears and That's one of my favorite animals . I mostly like grizzly bears or polar bears their my top two favorite types of bears.
Growing Up
Saida
2025
Colored pencils, oils pastels
This piece displays the prompt of "Multiple Interpretations" because it is up to the viewer to see if the little girl and boy are looking back at being young, or embracing the age they are in.
Different Together: A Garden of Many Voices
Claire
2025
Acrylic, modeling paste
My artwork connects to the theme “Multiple Interpretations” by showing how meaning changes with perspective. The piece can be turned in many different directions offering new story. When held vertically with the pink flower on top, the orange flowers seem to lift it up or root for it, their stigmas pointing toward it as if celebrating its uniqueness. When flipped, the pink flower appears weighed down, with its stigma drooping and the orange flowers seeming to look down on it, shifting the mood. Light green around the pink flower also suggests it may one day fade into the background like the soft, quiet leaves. When viewed horizontally, the flower's stigmas flow in one direction, creating a sense of balance and unity. Each angle tells a different story of support, struggle, or harmony, symbolizing how every voice and viewpoint adds to the whole.
Spiderman Transformation
Dorothea
2025
Paper
This artwork represents multiple interpretations because it has multiple different styles of artwork and you can see it in many different ways. Instead of using different colors for my 4 sections to make it more eye catching I used instead, multiple styles interpreting spiderman in many different ways.
Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity and accepting my work!"
– Jenna, 2025 Featured Student-Artist
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