Preview the spectacular work of young Bay Area creatives
This year’s recipients of the Bay Area Scholastic Art Awards shared powerful work that earned them top honors in these esteemed awards.
The national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are a prestigious opportunity for high school students to share their vision, earn important recognition, and jumpstart a pathway toward art and design careers. Regional awards happen all over the United States, and this year California College of the Arts (CCA) served as the regional affiliate for the third year in a row. Started in 1923 in New York, the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards has recognized artists, designers, and performers such as Amanda Gorman, Ken Burns, Andy Warhol, and Lena Dunham.
From over 7,200 entries across 18 Bay Area counties, CCA is proud to award 394 Gold Keys to high school students who brought a distinctive voice and perspective, originality, and technical skill to truly inspiring and provocative work. These students will automatically be entered into the national Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and their work will be showcased at a pop-up exhibition at CCA from March 26 - 30. Five of these students have also been nominated for the American Vision Award. Additionally, CCA acknowledges the 566 Silver Key recipients and the 1,040 Honorable Mentions for their inspiring achievements. Congratulations to every student who participated!
“I think a lot of young people are grappling with the major contemporary issues of our time, and the entries showed that. Our young artists are addressing global issues such as climate change, the lasting effects of the pandemic, and social justice. Personal transformation, cultural identity, and the dual role digital culture plays in our lives were also major themes this year. The work is incredible and truly a diverse representation of the greater Bay Area.”
Senior Director of Youth Programs and Continuing Education
Students recognized at the Bay Area Scholastic Art Awards each had a story to tell and executed it with skill and precision. That’s what earned them this top spot. Work here exemplifies how these students carry their imaginations and perspectives authentically into their practice through photography, mixed media, painting and drawing, sculpture, performance, digital compositions, and more.
A glimpse into the winning artworks
Yuvika Jain
Grade 10, Moreau Catholic High School
A Fleeting Moment
“This is a charcoal drawing of my mother using a blue paper for the mid-tone. My mother is tying blue and white balloons together for my 8th Grade graduation. She smiles when I approach her for a photo, as she is embarrassed. The title refers to how the moment was fleeting, like a butterfly that is flying away, so I briefly captured it with my insect net. Now, it will be a memory that I can showcase, akin to a butterfly that is on display for the world to see.”
Yuvika Jain, A Fleeting Moment. Photography. Courtesy of the artist.
Jane Liou
Grade 11, Mountain View High School
Jamais Vu
“The feeling that a familiar place seems suddenly foreign. I discovered this feeling when I visited my hometown after 5 years. Upon returning to my old house, I was surprised to feel both a sense of connection and detachment, and I wanted to illustrate this jarring contrast of emotions through a painting of my old kitchen.
I painted the first layer of the kitchen with a dreamy, memory-like style to represent the familiarity of the space. The warm color palette and bright yellow underpainting convey comfort, vividness, and the personality of the kitchen. Next, I covered the canvas with masking tape and gesso. On the second layer, I painted the kitchen in a more realistic style, but created a more aloof and distant atmosphere using a cool color palette to emphasize the feeling of foreignness. The kitchen, now empty, seems devoid of any life and character, representing how, after we moved out of our apartment, the kitchen became an empty, unrecognizable space. Lastly, I peeled off parts of the top layer to reveal glimpses of the first layer. The pattern resembles a fractured mirror, symbolizing my reflection on my memories. The crevices of my memory in an otherwise lifeless scene of my kitchen emphasize the feeling of familiarity and unfamiliarity with a space that one experiences after leaving it for a while.
Through this painting, I discovered the duality of spaces: they have the power to both conjure memories and challenge them.”
Jane Liou, Jamais Vu. Painting. Courtesy of the artist.
Donghyun Han
Grade 11, Dougherty Valley High School
The Forest of Purity and Its Intersection
“This artwork describes the pure social interactions and relationships of children. It explores the source of their innocence through the harmony of natural and artificial spaces, and expresses the harmony of pure childhood through patterns and designs.”
Donghyun Han, The Forest of Purity and Its Intersection. Digital art. Courtesy of the artist.
Grace Xie
Grade 11, Santa Catalina School
Timeless Tea Heritage
“In this photograph, I captured the moment when the teahouse owner lifted the steaming kettle, spilling a circle of water. It was really striking to me because everything felt surreal, whether it was the torn canvas in the background or the elder watching this "performance" behind. It all seemed to transport me back to the early 20th century. I wanted to let my audience experience the essence of traditional tea culture with me through this image.”
Grace Xie, Timeless Tea Heritage. Photography. Courtesy of the artist.
Blayke Woods
Grade 12, Pacific Grove High School
Cowboy Sunset
“This photo was taken during the sunset when me and a friend went to Castroville. We took a break at a liquor store for snacks where we then saw a group of cowboys and a beautiful sunset backdrop.”
Blayke Woods, Cowboy Sunset. Photography. Courtesy of the artist.