An oil pastel artwork depicting a girl lying in a field of wildflowers.

62nd Young Arkansas Artists

Virtual Exhibition

AMFA's annual Young Arkansas Artists Exhibition highlights the remarkable talent, creativity and perspective of Arkansas students. Each year, art educators and instructors throughout Arkansas submit their students’ work, and a panel of art professionals select works to be included in the exhibition.

Showcasing artwork from kindergarten through high school in a wide range of media and techniques, the 65 selected works – or five works from each grade level – are on display below.

Congratulations to all the students, art educators, and schools represented in the 62^nd Young Arkansas Artists Exhibition!

Kindergarten

Nebula L., "Rainbow Zebra," tempera paint, Kindergarten, Theodore Jones Elementary, Art Educator: Jessica Harris.
Autumn D., "Wayne Thiebaud Gumball Machines," watercolor and oil pastel, Kindergarten, Jonesboro Kindergarten Center, Art Educator: Hanne Pelletier.
Honorable Mention: Charlotte C., "Hear Me ROAR," oil pastel and watercolor, Kindergarten, Immaculate Conception Catholic School NLR, Art Educator: Christi Callaway.
Honorable Mention: Dae'Vion P., "Snuggled Up and Cozy," crayon and watercolor, Kindergarten, Wakefield Elementary, Art Educator: Cheryl Compagna.
Best In Class & Teacher's Choice: Johnathan D., "The Sky is Falling," collage with tempera paint, magic marker, and Sharpie, Kindergarten, Valley Springs School District, Art Educator: Deloris Smith.

First Grade

Teddy L., "Lewis Latimer," oil pastel, First Grade, Forest Heights STEM Academy, Shelby Baker.
Best In Class: Charlotte F., "Before the Snooze," mixed media, First Grade, Immaculate Conception Catholic School NLR, Art Educator: Christi Callway.
Honorable Mention: Macie M., "Kandinsky Trees," crayon and paint, First Grade, Woodlawn Elementary, Art Educator: Nickie Owens.
Jane B., "Collage Lion," collage, First Grade, Episcopal Collegiate Lower School, Art Educator: Jessica McSpadden.
Honorable Mention & Teacher's Choice: Braylee S., "LOVE," oil pastel and watercolor, First Grade, Landmark Elementary PCSSD, Art Educator: Kelly Emerson.

Second Grade

Blakely M., "Frida Kahlo," crayon and watercolor, Second Grade, Carolyn Lewis Elementary, Art Educator: Michelle Sutterfield.
Best In Class & Teacher's Choice: Amari M., "The Apple and The Pear," oil pastel on construction paper, Second Grade, Wakefield Elementary, Art Educator: Cheryl Compagna.
Honorable Mention: Finley K., "Double Armadillo," block print on paper, Second Grade, West Side Elementary, Greers Ferry, Art Educator: Cherie Grizzle.
Honorable Mention: Julio V., "Self-Portrait," mixed media, Second Grade, Julia Lee Moore Elementary, Art Educator: Austin Polk.
Kirstyn H., "Skipping Along," mixed media, Second Grade, Gibbs International Magnet, Art Educator: Blair Ray.

Third Grade

Honorable Mention: Bayleigh M., "Rail Bridge," oil pastel, watercolor, and ink, Third Grade, Williams Traditional Magnet Elementary School, Art Educator: Benita Robinson.
Natalie R., "Cubism Self-Portrait," watercolor and marker on mixed-media paper, Third Grade, LISA Academy North Elementary, Art Educator: Anna Mitchell.
Honorable Mention: Kennedy F., "Flowers," marker, Third Grade, Episcopal Collegiate Lower School, Art Educator: Jessica McSpadden.
Emme K., "Self-Portrait," scanned self portrait with oil pastel, Third Grade, Maumelle Charter Elementary School, Art Educator: Hether Embrey.
Best In Class & Teacher's Choice: Group Project, "Busy Bees," oil pastel, Sharpie, watercolor and paint sticks, Third Grade, Lakewood Elementary School, Art Educator: Jamie Freyaldenhoven.

Fourth Grade

Best In Class: Isa M., "Whooo are you looking at?," mixed media, Fourth Grade, Immaculate Conception Catholic School NLR, Art Educator: Christi Callway.
Honorable Mention: Ella B., "Winter Sunset," Crayon and watercolor, Fourth Grade, Woodlawn Elementary, Art Educator: Nickie Owens.
Honorable Mention & Teacher's Choice: Griffin T., "Cheetah," oil on canvas, Fourth Grade, Kirkpatrick Private Instruction, Art Educator: Toni Kirkpatrick.
Griffin T., "Western Monarchs," acrylic on canvas, Fourth Grade, Poyen Elementary School, Art Educator: Heather Arnold.
Lillian S., "Be Whoever You Want to Be," Sharpie and marker, Fourth Grade, Lakewood Elementary School, Art Educator: Jamie Freyaldenhoven.

Fifth Grade

Evie P., "James van Der Zee," pen and chalk pastel, Fifth Grade, Episcopal Collegiate Lower School, Art Educator: Jessica McSpadden.
Honorable Mention: Tadeo H., "The Eagle," block print on paper, Fifth Grade, West Side Elementary, Greers Ferry, Art Educator: Cherie Grizzle.
Teacher's Choice: Trey W., "Modigliani Me...Lost in Thought," oil pastels, Fifth Grade, The Anthony School, Art Educator: Graeme Ellzey.
Best In Class: Sarah S., "Bunny in the Meadow," cut paper, Fifth Grade, C D Creative Studio, Art Educator: Cynthia Delahunt.
Honorable Mention: Levi Z., "Autumn Landscape," mixed media, Fifth Grade, Gibbs International Magnet, Art Educator: Blair Ray.

Sixth Grade

Best In Class: Piyush K., "The Naga 'Eyes' of the Storm," ceramic/glaze, Sixth Grade, Williams Traditional Magnet Elementary School, Art Educator: Benita Robinson.
Honorable Mention: Campbell D., "Colors of Me," oil pastel and watercolor, Sixth Grade, Jonesboro Visual & Performing Arts Magnet School, Art Educator: Amanda Carrington.
Best In Show Watercolor Award: Aubrey D., "Friends," watercolor pencil, Sixth Grade, Pulaski Academy, Art Educator: Sarah Waymire.
Honorable Mention: Aiden W., "Gum Ball Machine," colored pencil, Sixth Grade, Woodlawn Elementary, Art Educator: Nickie Owens.
Teacher's Choice: Miriam M., "Dogs, Doughnuts Dance, and Dixie on Diaries," red earthenware, underglazes, and gloss glazes, Sixth Grade, The Anthony School, Art Educator: Graeme Ellzey.

Seventh Grade

Honorable Mention: Eden W., "Tapir," scratchboard, Seventh Grade, Harding Academy, Art Educator: Margaret Lake.
Bradley L., "Aunt T's House," graphite, Seventh Grade, Highland Middle School, Art Educator: Michale Riggs.
Honorable Mention: Lucy H., "Paint Me Beautiful," pencil, Seventh Grade, Lincoln Junior High, Art Educator: Jerris Palmer.
Best In Class & Teacher's Choice: Toni L., "Lady of the Pearls," acrylic on canvas, Seventh Grade, Episcopal Collegiate School, Art Educator: Sarah Higgins.
Izzy P., "Talk a Walk in My Shoes," collage, Seventh Grade, Immaculate Conception Catholic School NLR, Art Educator: Christi Callaway.

Eighth Grade

Teacher's Choice: Enid C., "Homer," scratchboard, Eighth Grade, Harding Academy, Art Educator: Margaret Lake.
Honorable Mention: Hannah M., "The Other Me," collage, Eighth Grade, Beebe Junior High, Art Educator: Lisa Smith.
James H., "Man vs. Machine," cardboard and 3D printed filament, Eighth Grade, Founders Classical Academy Rogers, Art Educator: Abby Hollis.
Honorable Mention: Camden W., "Cobalt Canine," marker and color pencils, Eighth Grade, Wiggins Art School, Art Educator: Shannon Wiggins.
Best In Class: Collaborative, "Mental Health Matters," 3D Life Size Packing Tape Body Cast Mixed Media Sculpture, Eighth Grade, The Anthony School, Art Educator: Graeme Ellzey.

Ninth Grade

Best In Class & Teacher's Choice: Sasha B., "The Morning Battle," charcoal, Ninth Grade, Little Rock Central High School, Art Educator: Jason McCann.
Honorable Mention: Jaylee C., "Masterpiece," chalk pastel, Ninth Grade, Cabot Freshman Academy, Art Educator: Shannon Wiggins.
David R., "Ornamental Plate," porcelain and mason stains, Ninth Grade, Thaden School, Art Educator: Nina Buonaiuto.
Honorable Mention: Julia P., "Vending Machine," white charcoal on black pepper, Ninth Grade, Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School, Art Educator: Matt TerAvest.
Brooklyn W., "Self-Portrait," charcoal, Ninth Grade, Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School, Art Educator: Shannon Harrison.

Tenth Grade

Gracie S., "Hydrangeas in Water," oil paint, Tenth Grade, Little Rock Christian Academy, Art Educator: Melanie Buchanan.
Leah M., "Reilly," oil pastel, Tenth Grade, Little Rock Central High, Art Educator: Jason McCann.
Honorable Mention & Teacher's Choice: Gracie C., "Beat It," charcoal and white conte, Tenth Grade, Mountain Home High School Career Academies, Art Educator: Beth Ivens.
Best In Class: Allie S., "Dissection," mixed media soft sculpture, Tenth Grade, Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School, Art Educator: Matt TerAvest.
Honorable Mention: Ashley W., "Pizza Book," cloth, foam, paper and embroidery, Tenth Grade, Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School, Art Educator: Shannon Harrison.

Eleventh Grade

Erin E., "Nova," oil pastel, Eleventh Grade, Little Rock Central High, Art Educator: Jason McCann.
Best In Class & Teacher's Choice: Gabriella D., "Untitled," charcoal and white conte, Eleventh Grade, Mountain Home High School Career Academies, Art Educator: Beth Ivens.
Honorable Mention: Elanna O., "Nibbler," colored pencil on black paper, Eleventh Grade, Cabot High School, Art Educator: Christine Guenard.
Honorable Mention: Isabella U., "Oma and Pappy," colored pencil on black paper, Eleventh Grade, Cabot High School, Art Educator: Helen Goodman.
McKayla W., "Drawing of David," mixed media, Eleventh Grade, Lakeside High School, Art Educator: Kristie York.

Twelfth Grade

Best In Class & Teacher's Choice: Mikki Y., "In the Stands," watercolor, Twelfth Grade, Sylvan Hills High School, Art Educator: Neilann Verdell.
Trinity C., "Rin," charcoal and white conte, Twelfth Grade, Mountain Home High School Career Academies, Art Educator: Beth Ivens.
Honorable Mention: Carla S., "Mother's Resilience," oil, Twelfth Grade, Parkview Arts & Science Magnet High School, Art Educator: Matt TerAvest.
Honorable Mention: Monique D., "Self-Portrait December 2022," gouache, Twelfth Grade, Founder Classical Academy of Rogers, Art Educator: Robert Lemming.
Rebekah J., "Life History Cocoon," crocheted yarn, Twelfth Grade, Little Rock Central High School, Art Educator: Amanda Naus.

About the Awards

Works are selected for the exhibition by a panel of professional artists, collectors, and art educators. From those selections, Grand Juror Brian Young assigned the following awards:

1 "Best in Class" for each grade – schools receive $350 to support their art programs and students receive a $45 gift certificate for art supplies
2 "Honorable Mentions" for each grade – schools receive $200 to support their art programs and students receive a $25 gift certificate for art supplies
1 Mid-Southern Watercolorists' "Best in Show Watercolor Award" overall – school receives $250 to support their art program

One "Teacher’s Choice" award per grade level is also selected by the Arkansas Art Educators Association.

As rising Juniors and Seniors, the Tenth and Eleventh grade Best-in-Class winners are also awarded the opportunity to attend artWAYS, a week-long residential summer intensive visual arts program in June 2023 through UA Little Rock's Department of Art and Design.

About the Juror

Square black and white photo of a white man with a goatee smiling and wearing a suit, patterned shirt, and striped tie.

Brian Young / Director, Baum Gallery at the University of Central Arkansas

Since August of 2016, Brian Young has served as the director for the Baum Gallery at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, AR. He is also a lecturer in the Art and Design department (UCA). From 1997 - 2016, Young has served as a curator of drawings and exhibitions for the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts (formerly the Arkansas Arts Center), Little Rock, AR; Cranbrook Art Museum (CAM), Bloomfield Hills, MI; the Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD; the University of Maryland Global College (UMGC), Adelphi, MD; and Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, MD.

From 2012 - 2016, Young taught art history at UMGC where he was Associate Adjunct Professor. Prior to that, Young served on the faculty of Ohio Dominican University, Columbus, and Salisbury University, Maryland. In 2016, he completed a certificate in art appraisal studies from New York University. In the field of art history, Young’s specialties include drawings and contemporary art. He has written monographs on Arnold Bittleman (2004), James Hilleary (2012), Helen Zughaib (2015), and Akemi Maegawa (2016). Young has also curated two major fiber exhibitions: Hot House: Expanding the Field of Fiber, 1970-2007 (CAM, 2007) and Threads Through Time (UCA, 2020).