Exhibiting Artists 2025
Antonia Pribanic, East Meadow HS
Gemma Sackett, Smithtown Christian School
- Achievement Award in Sculpture
Erik Satanovsky, Huntington HS
Maia Schnaider, Half Hollow Hills HS West
- Achievement Award in Colored Pencil
- Visitors Choice Award
Estiven Segovia Ticas, Huntington HS
- Achievement Award in Digital Art
Ruby Sparling, Smithtown Christian School
- Achievement Award in Sculpture
Aleena Stanfield, Centereach HS
Xaria Talavera, Hicksville HS
- Second Place, Judith Sposato Memorial Prize
Isabella Thames, Malverne HS
Xavier Tian, Syosset HS
- Stepping Stone Award
Amelia Townsend, Uniondale HS
- Donald and Gloria Horn Scholarship Award
Shayna Troyanovsky, Division Avenue HS
Charlotte Tsekerides, Cold Spring Harbor HS
Neha Tuladhar, Hicksville HS
- Lisa Hock Memorial Award
Samantha Urmaza, Harborfields HS
Gabriella Vario, Sayville HS
- Virtual Visitors Choice Award
Crisbel Verdugo, Hicksville HS
Angela Vlavianos, New Hyde Park Memorial HS
Jessie Wan, Syosset HS
Xihao Wang, The Stony Brook School
- Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Paige Wells, General Douglas MacArthur HS
Kaitlyn Wu, William A. Shine Great Neck South HS
Xiaoyu Yang, Roslyn HS
Henry Zhao, Cold Spring Harbor HS
Lyla Zwolak, Shoreham Wading River HS
Lizette Acosta
INA, Watercolor on Paper
Amityville Memorial High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Jayne Grasso
George Grosz’s work, Journey Through the Night, inspired me because of its texture and depth. While Grosz created The Stick Men series in response to the devastating effects of World War ll, my piece, INA, focuses on my concerns about immigrant people in America. As someone who is Hispanic I think it is important to spread awareness about the issues with immigration laws currently happening in the US. My family and friends often serve as inspiration for my artwork. I saw pictures and videos of people at the border terrified and worried for what their future holds. I used watercolor to add depth and a variety of other techniques to create texture and different visuals throughout my piece. I will continue to tell a story through my artwork as problems arise in the United States.
Inspiration artwork:
George Grosz, Journey Through the Night, c. 1948, Watercolor on paper
From the exhibition: George Grosz: The Stick Men
Estefany Argueta
Adelphi For The Love of Art Award: Graphic Design
Always Missing You, Digital photograph Farmingdale High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Laura Steffen
I was inspired by how Lili Nickolina Maglione expressed connection and separation in UNWOVEN #2 Always Missing You represents my story of moving to another country, being separated from my family due to difficult situations and trying so hard to remain connected. I used a scanner to photograph my hand wrapped in red string. The glass from the scanner represents the barrier between me and my family. Symbolically, my hand is trying to reach through the barrier between us. My hand is in focus against the glass becoming out of focus as it gets further away, creating an illusion that I am fading away, being pulled from the people I want to be close to. The red string symbolizes the invisible connection we have to the people we love regardless of circumstances. The red thread in my image displays the connection me and my loved ones have, even though we are separated by millions of miles. The writing layered over my hand is a letter from my best friend saying goodbye to me when I moved. This letter has been very comforting to me through hard times. The process of layering the writing onto my photo symbolizes how we as humans add layers to our lives despite them being good or bad. These layers are part of who we are now.
Inspiration artwork:
Lili Nickolina Maglione, UNWOVEN #2, 2023, Pen and ink on canvas
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Nikita Bansal
Charcoal Self-Portrait, Charcoal
New Hyde Park Memorial High School, Grade 10, Art Teacher: Danielle Livoti
In this self-portrait, I was able to explore and challenge myself to express my most vulnerable and unfiltered form through charcoal. The exploration of human vulnerability and internal struggle that is expressed in Karl Bourke’s artwork relates to the raw expression displayed in my self-portrait. Creating intellectually accessible art through portraiture has always felt deeply intimidating to me and for this reason, I felt especially connected to the artist’s goal of reestablishing communication with the artist through painting traditional subjects in a realist manner. Creating this charcoal artwork allowed me to translate all of myself onto a twodimensional surface, in a way that does not have to be abstract or complicated by barriers, but can be understood by all.
Inspiration artwork:
Karl Bourke, Self Portrait: The lengths that I will go to, 2023, Oil on canvas
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Clayton Bany
Bite the Apple, Gouache on paper
Farmingdale High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Lisa Gramarossa
I was inspired by Maria Spector’s work in two ways– her reference to The Garden of Eden and gender. Instead of addressing gender roles, I focused on gender identity and self-discovery. When Eve bit the apple from the tree of knowledge, she was met with shame after gaining awareness of both herself and the world around her. In my piece, the apple represents the knowledge gained through self-discovery. As one bites into the apple, it opens the doors to exploring their identity and therefore creates the opportunity to grow into themselves. They might be met with shame at first, but the sun, light, and warm colors in the background remind them that this discovery has enlightened them; that brighter days are ahead with their newfound awareness of their true selves. I was also inspired by Spector’s choice to use gouache paint to create bright and vibrant colors, deciding to use the same medium in my piece. Following her choice of using bright colors, I chose to highlight the figure in my piece with the different shades of the colors of the transgender flag to further emphasize my message of the exploration of gender identity. As the figure sinks their teeth into the apple, they invite the viewer to bite their own apple of discovery and indulge in their own exploration.
Inspiration artwork:
Maria Spector, Candy Girls Under the Sugar-Plum Tree with Boy and the Artists that Painted Women, 2022, Gouache on paper
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Cassandra Beltran Meadows, Acrylic on canvas
Half Hollow Hills High School East, Grade 10, Art Teacher: Kim Norris
I was inspired by all the foliage in The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024 exhibition. There was so much greenery and liveliness, even in the mundane vines growing on objects in James E. Rice’s piece, Nature Tag. I felt a strong connection to Rice’s piece because I always appreciate nature, taking time to hike on long walks through forests or water the tiny flowers on my lawn. Every plant, no matter what origin, deserved my love. I painted a bright sky in order to illuminate the field beneath it. I chose vivid yellows and greens to emphasize the growth of nature, and for the viewer to appreciate the gifts of natural scenery.
Inspiration artwork:
James E. Rice, Nature Tag, 2024, Polychromos colored pencils on paper
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Alexander Benfield Loose Ends
Rubber bands
East Meadow High School
Grade 12
Art Teacher: Brian O’Neill
Jessica Penagos’s piece, Rio Birth, challenged the boundaries between arts and crafts and made me view one of my own hobbies with a far greater sense of artistic capability. Using every kind of colorful Rainbow Loom band I had left, I wove a tapestry made out of a material near and dear to my heart. Forming a gradient with frayed edges, the tapestry portrays a piece of the timeline of my life. The beginning and end of my childhood are hazy, but its middle is filled with vibrance and depth. While my younger self would undoubtedly be angry with my wasting of these precious supplies, I feel it serves as a heartfelt expression of how he slowly faded into the past.
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration Artwork:
Jessica Penagos, Rio birth, 2022, Cotton and wool thread on cotton
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Selene Brown
Threads Won’t Let Me Forget, Collage Bay Shore High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Margaret Schultz
I created a collage with ephemeral papers and delicate objects that have a vintage-aged look to them. The collage features photos of my grandmother as a little girl, and although I never met her, I feel very connected to her based on old stories passed down and the name we both share. I feel as though her photos are visual reminders of the person she was, and through them I can hold on to the essence of her. I was inspired by Pinky Urmaza’s piece, Night Pedestrian, because of the use of book pieces in her textile collage. The use of older book fragments in this collage emphasizes the importance of timeworn pieces and ephemeral materials, as well as allowing me to reflect on the stories embedded in these fragments. Urmaza highlights the beauty in preserving the past by using a medium that is unique and meaningful. Similar to this artist, I wanted to capture the delicacy of forgotten memories with ephemera and vintage photographs. My collage is all done on a vintage book cover, allowing the papers to look like they’re appearing out of a book. On the left side of the collage, I used a dried flower that I think highlights the beauty of wilted objects. Flowers are something very personal to me, and by including one I feel like I’m connecting a piece of myself to my grandmother. The threading drapes across the collage “sewing” the photographs to the wilted flower, as if it is holding them together. While time causes photographs to age and flowers to fade, there’s still a thread holding on that’s preventing her from fading away.
Cozza Family Award
Inspiration artwork:
Pinky Urmaza, Night Pedestrian, 2022, Book parts, acrylic and graphite
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Alfonso Castillo
Cut Loose
Colored pencil with paint pen
Valley Stream Central HS
Grade 10
Art Teacher: Mario Bakalov
Honorable Mention
Adelphi For The Love of Art Award: Art Foundations
I took inspiration from Our Scarecrow by Kailee S. Finn, who also attended Valley Stream Central High School. Like Kailee, I sought to depict the many pressures that come with being a young man in the modern world. Adults often think that adolescence is easy, that life doesn’t get hard until you become an adult. In truth, because we’re often not considered old enough to make our own decisions, young people’s lives are dominated by the decisions and expectations of others. Between the pressure to excel academically, to take care of responsibilities at home, to make his family proud, to maintain a certain image in front of his peers, or to be a good boyfriend — a young person can be left with little time, or energy, to live the life that he wants and to follow his own heart. My piece depicts me as a performer on a stage, being forced to put on a show for the world, while having my strings pulled by forces more powerful than me. Meanwhile, there’s another pressure stronger than all the rest—the pressure of time. Like the rose on the stool, losing its petals, I inch closer to the responsibilities of adulthood with every passing day. Not wanting to waste another day, I start to cut myself free. Doing so comes as a great risk, as I could lose the guidance of those with more life experience than me. But the risk of living a life of regret and wasted potential—like the skeleton still attached to its strings—is so much scarier. Sometimes you need to just cut loose.
Inspiration artwork:
Kailee S. Finn, Our Scarecrow, 2022, Chalk pastel on pastel paper
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Leo Chan
String of Pearls, Pencil Manhasset High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Lori Oldaker
The piece, Holy, Holy (Self Portrait), by Nathaniel Schindler caught my attention because of the symbolism in the golden background around the artist. The shapes created between the cord of the headphones wrapped around the artist’s finger allowed me to take inspiration by including a string of pearls that twirl around the hands of an angel. My piece symbolizes the need people have to conform to societal expectations. The round pearls breaking away from the string shows deviation from these societal expectations. The figure being an angel represents purity and loss of moral value in humanity.
Inspiration artwork: Nathaniel Schindler, Holy, Holy (Self Portrait), 2022, Oil on canvas with gold leaf
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Grace Chen
Convergence, Oil on canvas
William A. Shine Great Neck South High School, Grade 11, Art Teachers: Megan Cashman & Max Handelman
Rabbit 3 Moon demonstrates the pride the artist has for her culture, with bold colors and a plethora of cultural symbols and items. Three women stand in the center with confidence as they celebrate their shared traditions through their blue clothing that stands out against the orange of the background. I live in New York, which is much more culturally heterogeneous in comparison to a Mayan village, the setting of Rabbit 3 Moon. Despite differences in heritage, the people in New York live together, communicating and cooperating easily (for the most part). They go about their daily lives as Americans while carrying their cultural heritage. I painted people of diverse backgrounds, shown through traditional clothing, interacting at a bus stop at night—a more intimate setting. In a city of varied backgrounds, their cultures remain personal, yet here, at the bus stop, people from all walks of life converge.
Inspiration artwork:
Kelynn Zena Alder, Rabbit 3 Moon, 2023, Acrylic, oil and collage on canvas
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Hope Underwater, Watercolor on paper
The Stony Brook School Grade 9, Art Teacher: Marisa D’Ulisse
I was inspired by the piece Plague of Plastic by Jane Kirkwood. I was drawn in by the “The Plague Doctor” and his call of death and destruction. As a child, I was full of hope, bewilderment, and curiosity about the world around me. I remember going to the aquarium when I was young and seeing magical marine creatures. However, as I watch our planet’s water supply being harmed by tons of plastic and trash, I come to understand the tragic reality. The waters that once fascinated me are now drowning in pollution, and fish and many marine creatures are getting choked by plastic waste due to human negligence. This artwork shows a visual representation of my concerns about the future environment. Now, I can see an ocean full of broken plastics, candy wrappers, soda cans, and other waste, rather than a clear ocean. The marine life seems distressed, trapped in a polluted environment they cannot escape. Through this artwork, just like Plague of Plastic, I wish to raise awareness and provoke thought about the environmental crisis that we face today. If we continue down this path, what kind of world will future generations inherit? Even if it seems like a small step, if we do it together—liker ecycling properly and reducing plastic use—we can make a difference. The choices we make today will shape the future of our planet.
Andrew Presberg Promising Young Artist Award
Inspiration artwork: Jane Kirkwood, Plague of Plastic, 2022, Oil on ampersand panel
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Jiwon Choi
Colacino Pepper, Oil
East Rockaway High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Kelly Cabasso
I was inspired by Madeline Daversa’s watercolor painting, Lettuce, because of her use of vivid color and perspective. Her use of light and shadows captivated my attention. I also strongly agree with her advocacy for preserving agriculture on Long Island. In my piece, Pepper, I aimed to mimic the striking colors and strong use of foreshortened perspective. By using the bright lights at the supermarket I was able to achieve strong lights and shadows as well.
Inspiration artwork: Madeline Daversa, Lettuce, 2024, Watercolor on paper
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Isabella
on canvas
Kaitlin Cook
Imperium, Acrylic and colored pencil on panel Garden City High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Shawn Uttendorfer
Inspired by Fernando Carpaneda’s Shrouded Truths: The Dance of Denial, I sought to explore the concept of political disregard and division within power structures. I was captivated by the sense of immediacy and motion in Carpaneda’s piece and how he utilizes an isolated figure to emphasize its message. Additionally, like the figure in Carpaneda’s work, I wanted my subject to be fully absorbed within its surroundings. I purposefully made each mark to create a delicate balance between harsh chaos and softlyblended obscurity. This contrast is used to emphasize and compare the idealism and reality that is associated with absolute power, and the issues that come with faithfully tolerating a system of corrupt authority despite the chaos it may cause.
Inspiration artwork: Fernando Carpaneda, Shrouded Truths: The Dance of Denial, 2024, Acrylic on canvas
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Alana Cornacchiulo
Glowing Glass, Chalk pastel
Bellport High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Devin Auricchio
Emily Rose Larsen’s pigment photographs inspired me to explore light refraction and reflections of glass. Using underlighting with various colors of tissue paper, I was able to overlap different hues of color to explore how color and light interact through texture and transparency. I aimed to create a drawing that uses photorealism, inspired by Larsen’s use of digital photography, to capture the intensity and detail of the color in the still life.
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Emily Rose Larsen, RYB 02, 2023, Archival pigment print
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Vasilios Dallas
The Neighborhood, Digital photograph
Herricks High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Allyson Zebrowski
From above, the world shrinks. The pool, a vibrant turquoise rectangle, becomes a stage for miniature people, who, like graceful dolls, float and frolic in the water. I was captivated by Glen Hansen’s use of aerial perspective in his painting World Trade Center. Hansen was able to achieve a surreal, almost magical quality of Manhattan. Towering buildings appear like miniature models, inviting the viewer to reconsider scale and reality. The Neighborhood uses an aerial view that almost looks as though it was taken with a tilt-shift lens. Like Hansen, I wanted to capture a sense of wonder, but instead of grand skyscrapers, I utilized a mundane scene. The pool becomes a microcosm of life, filled with joy, silliness, laughter, and the simple pleasure of a summer day. It’s a reminder that even in the midst of our society’s fast-paced world, there’s beauty and wonder to be found in the everyday, if we just take a moment to look from a different perspective. Perhaps it’s in these miniature moments that we truly grasp the vastness of life itself.
Inspiration artwork: Glen Hansen, World Trade Center, 2022, Oil on panel
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Theodora Doukas
Tired of Trying, Acrylic, alcohol marker, and colored pencil on paper New Hyde Park Memorial High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Danielle Livoti
I was inspired by Barbara Ludwig’s photographs Thursday Is Market Day and Tuesday Is the Day To Iron. I have always had a deep interest in 1960s pop culture. When I saw these pieces, they immediately caught my eye. They reminded me of when I would play with my Barbie dolls and create miniature dioramas for them to live in. In my self-portrait, I am holding a sign that references the feminist movement of the 1960s as well as Bob Dylan’s iconic music video for “Subterranean Homesick Blues.”
Inspiration artwork: Barbara Ludwig, Thursday Is Market Day, 2023, Archival C-Print on Silver Halide Paper / Barbara Ludwig, Tuesday Is the Day To Iron, 2023, Archival C-Print on Silver Halide Paper From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Alyssa Doyer
Opposing Forces, Acrylic paint overlay on digital photography
Half Hollow Hills High School East, Grade 12,
Art Teacher: Allyson Uttendorfer
Edward Acosta’s work inspired me to experiment with scale. The work appears simple at first with bold lines and shapes, but actually has deep symbolism. I interpreted his use of different colors as people from all walks of life joining together and celebrating the characteristics that unite them, such as traditions, culture, and love. I portrayed the experiences that make people different, creating both unity and a divide in my mixed media photograph. I used tiny figurines of army men, clustered together with dramatic lighting to create exaggerated shadows and I captured the photo from above to further emphasize the line. I used acrylic paint and a squeegee to drag and elongate paint mimicking the different paths we take. My paths overlap creating balance and movement, juxtaposing the opposing forces of light and dark.
Inspiration artwork:
Edward Acosta, United In Division, 2024, Acrylic on canvas
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Shea Gannon
Fragments, Pen, ink, and watercolor
Walt Whitman High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Jessica Flinn
My work is a series of line-drawn portraits that explore self-perception through fragmented imagery. Compared to George Grosz’s Cross Section (1920) from Ecce Homo, which deconstructs the human form in a raw and almost chaotic manner, Fragments takes a more personal and introspective approach. While Grosz’s work critiques society and human nature through distortion, my work focuses on reconstructing my image in a way that resonates with my emotions and self-identity. Both pieces utilize fragmentation, but where Grosz dissects, I reassemble—creating a balance between reality and my idealized self. Through this, I hope to invite viewers into my thought process and explore the fluidity of selfrepresentation in art.
Inspiration artwork:
George Grosz, Cross Section from Ecce Homo, 1922–23 (original executed in 1920), Portfolio of offset lithographs and color lithographs
From the exhibition:
George Grosz: The Stick Men
Stephanie Godfrey
Sandalwood Drive, Watercolor on paper
Smithtown High School West, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Lauren George
In her piece, Lettuce, artist Madeline Daversa illustrates the hard-working people that represent her perspective of community. Motivated by this concept of community values, I depicted a scene that symbolizes the impact of community in my life. The landscape you see in my work is part of the neighborhood I grew up in, the community nearest to my heart. Across these streets I ran rampant on scooters with my brothers, drew my first pictures in chalk along the sidewalk, learned how to drive from my dad, exchanged priceless stories with neighbors, and truly learned how to succeed as a person. The women in Lettuce are who shaped the East End, but this neighborhood, the one I call home, is what shaped me. I observed the artist’s delicate implementation of shadows and highlights to create a realistic depth to her painting. I utilized a similar effect and paid special attention to the texture in the concrete sidewalk, the texture of the leaves, and the strong contrast between the yellow and orange highlights against the dark green and black of the shadows.
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork:
Madeline Daversa, Lettuce, 2024, Watercolor on paper
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Syd Goldman
Ima, Cotton and polyester thread on cotton
Long Beach High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Marlon Lainez
My work explores the loss and creation of cultural ties through generations, especially through a woman’s practice of creating, teaching, nourishing, and preserving. Food is a crucial part of every culture, and through writing down her recipes, my mother is recording history. My desire to take part in her culture and learn my Russian heritage has been unsuccessful, and will ultimately lead to the deterioration of this aspect of my family tree. Penagos’s use of textiles inspired me to implement this medium myself. By stitching recipes onto fabric, I am immortalizing my mother’s heritage and preserving the dwindling art of embroidery. Spending countless hours embroidering in a foreign language felt helpless, especially when compared to my ease of transcribing the Hebrew words. As Penagos depicts a woman’s craftsmanship and her role in forming identity and conveying femininity through domestic labor, my work depicts my mother’s half-failure in doing so; a cultural loss that frustrates me.
Inspiration Artwork:
Jessica Penagos, Rio birth, 2022, Cotton and wool thread on cotton
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Anya Goleski
In The Pain of Creation in a System of Numbers, Acrylic on canvas with found objects
Huntington High School, Grade 10, Art Teacher: Kristin Singer
Grosz’s portrayal of emptiness and despair in Uprooted (The Painter of the Hole) deeply influenced my work. In my piece In The Pain of Creation in a System of Numbers, I aim to communicate the suffocating effect that grades, conformity, and external expectations have on an artist’s soul. The very thing that once brought me joy now feels like a destructive force. Grosz’s hollow figure, both a reflection of himself and commentary on the struggle of the modern artist, inspired me to stab the broken brushes into my self portrait. This physicality represents my waning will to create, literally stabbed in the back by the very system that was once meant to nurture my artistic development. My expression is one of weariness and sorrow. I have become accustomed to the weight of the tools that should empower me, now only a source of pain and frustration.
Inspiration artwork:
George Grosz, Uprooted (The Painter of the Hole), 1948, Watercolor and selectively applied glaze on off-white modern laid paper
From the exhibition:
George Grosz: The Stick Men
Caitlyn Gordon
Ocean of Opportunities, Colored pencil
Valley Stream South High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Edward Lee
I was instantly attracted to Sea of Casings by Jennifer Lewis as I am very close to someone who is currently serving in the military. Similar in composition, Ocean of Opportunities displays a pair of my boots surrounded by items from my childhood and current items collected on the floor of my bedroom. The pencils and crayons scattered on the floor symbolize my own bullets as I try to complete my last year of high school. As the original piece demonstrates the inside of a military tank full of so many contrasting feelings such as anxiousness, fear, and excitement, my bedroom environment also captures the same feelings in a different area. The contrast between my childhood and being right on the edge of adulthood, brings up so many intimidating and conflicting feelings about growing up.
Fourth Place, The Stan Brodsky Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork:
Jennifer Lewis, Sea of Casings, 2024, Watercolor on paper
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Sismay Granados Greed, Pen
Central Islip High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher: Nicole Castelli
I was inspired by I Was Always Present because I found it fascinating how the concepts of hatred and greed are shown through animals and fantasy. I embodied the same concept by utilizing animals to form a single entity that I call “greed.” The ascending column of wolves symbolizes greed at its most extreme, with each creature doing whatever it takes to achieve its aims. I chose wolves because normally these animals live in packs to survive, but in this case, the pack attacks itself. This imagery serves to dramatically illustrate selfishness and a lack of empathy. In my view, anyone who harms others to get wealth is no better than a wild animal.
Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: George Grosz, I Was Always Present, 1942, Oil on canvas, mounted on panel From the exhibition: George Grosz: The Stick Men
City Pulse, Digital photograph
Northport High School, Grade 12, Art Teacher:
When reflecting on both my photograph and the artwork of Jeremy Grand, I sense a profound connection between them, united not only in their visual elements but also in the emotional resonance they evoke. Both are set in an urban environment, but there is more beneath the surface. I feel that Grand’s piece has undertones of starting from the bottom and working up. The theme of working to make a living – to survive – is something I see in the sort of busy, hustle, street environment of the city. My photo can be seen as a modern version of what is shown in Grand’s work. It is evidently shown in the fact that everyone is in motion, trying to make ends meet.
Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork:
Jeremy Grand, America the Beautiful, 2024, Pen and ink on paper
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Adam Himelfarb
John DeRosa
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi
Skye Housenbold
Inside Out Landscape, Oil on canvas
Huntington Fine Arts, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Lenore Hanson
In my piece, Inside Out Landscape, I sought to explore the interactions between abstraction and emotion while reflecting on divisional patterns found in natural landscapes. I was inspired by United in Division by Edward Acosta. Acosta’s intricate style of layering shapes and vibrant colors captures the complexity of human experience and social connection. My approach incorporated bold and sweeping strokes of a cool color palette to evoke an ethereal landscape. The large forms represent mountains and foliage, while subtle shapes and lines illustrate the dynamic movement of water and flora. This relationship reflects the tension between unity and division in my piece, causing viewers to reflect on their relationship with the world and one another. This work serves as a dialogue between the external environment and internal feelings, showing the complexities of division and unity that influences our lives. Through this exploration, I hope to inspire a deeper understanding of our shared humanity and the landscapes we inhabit: both physically and emotionally.
Inspiration artwork:
Edward Acosta, United In Division, 2024, Acrylic on canvas
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Maggie Hui
The Mosaic of Her Mind, Acrylic on canvas
Herricks High School, Grade: 10, Art Teacher: Jennifer Cavalluzzo
My inspiration for The Mosaic of Her Mind was InDecision by Charis J. Carmichael Braun. The colors chosen in this painting were extremely colorful and bold, which I found interesting as the figures did not express themselves as the colors did. Being colorful often corresponds with joy and excitement; however, the figures seemed as if they were suppressing their emotions while trying to look presentable. I wanted to emulate the use of color in InDecision to convey the ever-changing emotions that compose my soul. I included warm tones to display comforting memories and nostalgic experiences and cool tones to contrast and embody depth and mysteries of life. Harsh geometric shapes were used to show shards of feelings, memories, and dreams to contrast with the softness of the figure’s gaze. Although feelings can be displayed on one’s face, they can be concealed as well, and sometimes require a deeper dive to explore the root.
Inspiration artwork: Charis J. Carmichael Braun, InDecision, 2022, Acrylic and oil on canvas
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Jacob Ihne
Movement, Plaster on canvas
Sachem High School East, Grade: 9, Art Teacher: Katrina Wrigley
Inspired by Jeffrey Herschenhous’ 3D sculpture titled, Organic #1, my piece embodies a fundamental life with the presence of such organic motions, curating an emotional tribute to a feeling of grounded spirit. I captured the essence of Herschenhous’ work by allowing for organic creativity to flourish through the use of my hands. The movement correlates with the seamless adjoining of modern and classic perspectives. Underlying layers connect with the mind of age: the evolution of life and what simplicity plays in a rite of passage.
Inspiration artwork: Jeffrey Herschenhous, Organic #1, 2023, Basswood
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Ariana Jabbar
Who Are We?, Textile and tree branch Long Beach High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Eric Fox
What inspired me about UNWOVEN #2 was the abstract lines in the work that have deeper meaning despite appearing random. Seeing Maglione’s work made me realize I could bring her pen and ink lines to life in a three-dimensional way with yarn. I used a knitting loom to create the shape of my textile piece, Who Are We?. Much like the meaning behind UNWOVEN #2, I was inspired by how members of society today can also be unraveled as if they were a line or yarn.
Inspiration artwork:
Lili Nickolina Maglione, UNWOVEN #2, 2023, Pen and ink on canvas
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Chloe Jiang Smile for the Camera Oil on canvas
New Hyde Park Memorial HS Grade: 12
Art Teacher: Danielle Livoti
I was inspired by A Portrait of the Artist’s Husband as a Youngish Man by Laura Siegelman because it celebrates an individual untouched by the pervasive influence of social media. The artist’s husband, depicted with an imaginary T-shirt as a personal billboard, represents a quiet resistance to the self-advertisement culture that dominates platforms like Instagram and TikTok. This portrayal prompted me to consider the complete opposite and the contrast of the growing exploitation of children on these same platforms. While Siegelman’s artwork shows her husband’s identity in a society obsessed with self-promotion, it sheds light on how social media shapes public personas. For children, however, this shaping often comes at a significant cost. In the absence of sufficient laws or protections, their online presence is often commodified by parents, influencers, or corporations. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram generate millions of dollars for family-run channels, yet the children themselves have little to no legal rights over the earnings or their privacy. Unlike child labor laws in traditional industries, there is minimal regulation for children featured in monetized social media content which creates a new form of exploitation and abuse. This disparity and recent controversies inspired me to create artwork highlighting the vulnerability of children in the digital age, contrasting Siegelman’s work, which celebrates an older individual unaffected by these societal shifts. This issue calls for more attention, political action, and public awareness to ensure that children’s rights are respected in this rapidly evolving age.
Inspiration artwork:
Laura Siegelman, A Portrait of the Artist’s Husband as a Youngish Man, 2022, Colored pencil on paper
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Haley Jones
Salvaged Thicket, Acrylic on found wood panels
Bayport Blue Point High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Samantha Burns
The artist James E. Rice’s piece, Nature Tag, depicts a landscape filled with plants and rocks, transforming into other-worldly organisms. By taking photos of ordinary landscapes, Rice uses his interpretation and personal fascination with supernatural phenomena to create stunning visuals that take the viewer to another dimension. His use of natural formations and his somewhat mystical interpretation of them served as inspiration. My piece, Salvaged Thicket, uses eroded wooden fence posts that washed up on a beach to make a wooden canvas. The painting in the center is from a photograph I took on a kayak in the Silver Springs State Park in Florida. My family and I visit this place whenever we go down to Florida to visit my grandparents. They have always been adventurous people, traveling all around the world sailing, scuba diving, or exploring remote islands. They have always inspired me to go outdoors and explore the world around me, so when we made it a tradition to visit Silver Springs together, I was thrilled! This place felt truly magical and alive with its turquoise waters and living creatures all around. From the plentiful birds to the lurking alligators, the place breathed with life. James E. Rice’s blend of the natural with the supernatural inspired me to use physical, recycled materials with a magical image to create something new.
Donald G. Horn, Jr. Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork:
James E. Rice, Nature Tag, 2024, Polychromos colored pencils on paper
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Samantha Kapitansky
Hidden Blooms, Colored pencil
John F. Kennedy High School, Grade: 11
Art Teacher: Vanessa Albaneze
I was inspired by the bright and vibrant colors found in Greenhouse by Madeline Daversa. I loved the use of light and shadows in the painting, with some flower pots being highlighted with sunlight while others were more hidden in shadows. Additionally, I loved how the main focus of the painting is up for interpretation, as the overall painting depicts a relatively normal everyday scene in a greenhouse. While some could focus on the man or the sheer amount of flowers and greenery, the area I focused on was the bright atmosphere and beauty of nature. I incorporated the same use of shadow and light and looked to bring the content in the painting closer and more focused. This was done by drawing a close-up photo of parts of my face with various flowers blocking different sections. This drawing is meant to highlight more individual flowers and facial features over the entire scene that was created in Daversa’s beautiful painting.
Inspiration artwork: Madeline Daversa, Greenhouse, 2023, Watercolor on paper
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Julia Kapsa
A Hand of Blue Light Colored pencil, conte crayon West Islip High School Grade: 12
Art Teacher: Linda Marino
I took inspiration from Christian Wilbur’s photograph, Self-Portrait 18. I found the context behind his piece most intriguing as the artist states that it is, “...a documentation of who I once was, where I have been going, and who I am now.” There is a beauty in the journey of finding oneself through adversity, as the difficulty within that experience eventually leads to the growth of an individual who is confident within their own identity. While Wilbur used his own chain to emulate that of an N95 mask, I used my boyfriend’s chain as the focal point of my drawing. Upon his chain hangs a pendant of The Star of David, a symbol of Jewish identity. To some, this pendant that hangs on his neck each day holds deeper meaning. Throughout his childhood he often was reminded of the opinion that Jewish people should mask their identities from the public eye, as it might attract prejudiced acts of violence and hostility. Despite being often pushed to tuck his chain below his shirt or simply take it off, for the sake of his own safety, he holds true to his own morale. He takes pride in the diversity of his identity, and will have the strength to overcome the hardships that may come his way. I decided to draw this piece using only blue colored pencils, with the intention of utilizing the monochromatic tones to further emphasize the symbolism of the pendant.
Inspiration artwork: Christian Wilbur, Self-Portrait 18, 2024, Archival pigment print
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Sadie Koo
Marionette, Colored pencil and sewing thread
Long Island High School for the Arts, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Jason Cuvelier
While viewing Julian by Gail Postal, I was intrigued by the artist’s use of thin lines and negative space to suggest form and, in a way, hide certain parts of the body. To me, it felt as if the artist was perhaps censoring the body with her use of white space and purposeful focus only on the head, hands, and foot. There is a sense of vulnerability in the piece that is intensified by the use of space and draws more focus to certain parts of the figure. In my piece, I chose to lean into that vulnerability and sense of mystery. I chose to use my hair to cover parts of my body in my artwork. I sewed thread into the paper, connecting the anonymous and mysterious hands that I drew on the left to my body on the right. This is also similar to how Postal used thin lines to connect all of the drawn aspects of her figure. In my artwork, it’s as if the thread is connected to or part of my body. This action is meant to convey peer pressure and desire that can often sway us and make us vulnerable.
Third Place, The Hadley Prize
Inspiration artwork:
Gail Postal, Julian, 2024, Graphite and colored pencil on Bristol paper
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Benjamin Krieger
INSTANT GRATIFICATION, Film
Patchogue Medford High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Heather Rickard
Inspired by the artwork and themes covered by artist Neil Leinwohl, my piece is meant to depict the world’s dependency on short-term and instant gratification. Many social networks such as Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat have a stranglehold on my generation, and have changed the way that many think and see both themselves and others. Global attention spans have steadily decreased as people have become conditioned to consuming short-form content, tailored to their specific interests via spying and company monitoring. Users see these programs as personable and a novelty, while big tech companies design infinite scrolls to keep them engaged, boosting their wealth. The industrial and dark theming of this piece is meant to convey the reality of this process: a cold, meticulously planned system to dumb down users to keep them online and endlessly scrolling, which is represented by the infinite loop of people on conveyor belts.
Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork: Neil Leinwohl, HYPNOSIS, 2024, Archival inkjet print on paper
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Sarah Laudano
Ballerina, Digital art
W. C. Mepham High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Marissa Graña
I was deeply inspired by the artwork RYB 02 by Emily Rose Larsen because of Larsen’s use of dynamic juxtaposition of cool and warm tones. Using a digital medium, Ballerina is able to capture movement and energy of the figure through fluidity, dynamism, and color. I chose specific colors in Ballerina to further capture the figure’s movement, with the cool colors bringing a contrast to the overpowering vibrancy of the warm colors.
Inspiration artwork:
Emily Rose Larsen, RYB 02, 2023, Archival pigment print
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Janice Lee
The Red Scarf, Colored pencil and pastel
Long Island High School for the Arts, Grade: 12
Art Teacher: Jason Cuvelier
I was inspired by the unique cultural element of the artwork Rabbit 3 Moon by Kelynn Zena Alder. Similar to how Alder has explored Mexico’s living cultures, heritage, and experiences, I decided to explore the elements of Haitian culture. My piece, The Red Scarf, represents the cultural embrace of the young girl’s Haitian heritage and her innocent humanity despite the generational struggle of her ancestors. The red headscarf serves to express her warm embrace of her cultural identity. The vibrant colors of red and cyan create a strong sense of contrast and harmony to the piece. Colored pencil was used with the support of soft pastel in order to bring out the colors of the artwork.
Inspiration artwork: Kelynn Zena Alder, Rabbit 3 Moon, 2023, Acrylic, oil and collage on canvas
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Joseph Lee
On the Street, Charcoal on cardboard Hicksville High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas
After viewing the piece Two On Broadway by Robert V. Guido, I was inspired to create artwork focusing on homelessness. After having an opportunity to assist my uncle in aiding homeless people in New York City, I was motivated to recreate the emotions of the subjects in Guido’s photograph while expanding and adding my message to it. I used cardboard smudges and markers to portray signs similar to those I encountered while assisting the homeless. I drew the woman’s face in detail, highlighting her emotions and the importance of drawing attention to the topic of homelessness.
Honorable Mention
Inspiration artwork:
Robert V. Guido, Two On Broadway, 2022, Archival inkjet print
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Julia Lee
Tuesday Afternoon, Colored pencil
W. T. Clarke High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Jeannene Arcuri
Inspired by RJT Haynes’s use of composition in Current Affairs, I captured a normal Tuesday afternoon for two individuals sitting next to each other on the subway. Not knowing one another at all, separated by space and circumstances, the two figures are united and moving in the same direction. I aimed to convey the idea of individual people having their own lives, each carrying their own stories, joys, and struggles that are often unnoticed by one another in the hustle of daily life. The interconnectedness in the separation between the two people reminds viewers of how, even in the most ordinary moments, there is a diversity among human experience. Each person has their own emotions, priorities, and positions in life all intertwined in ways we might never discover.
Inspiration artwork:
RJT Haynes, Current Affairs, 2022, Oil on linen
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Kayce Lee Ultraviolet
Acrylic on canvas
Jericho Senior High School
Grade: 12
Art Teacher: Tara Pillich
This piece was inspired by the themes of gender and social norms present in Maria Spector’s work Candy Girls and Boys Under the Jellybean Tree and my own experience as a nonbinary person. In Spector’s work, the names of candies are used to express traditional ideas of femininity and masculinity and the roles implicit purely in their existence. My genderqueer identity is inherently tied to a middle ground, but in a society that demands conformity and assumption of one or the other, it becomes a source of dread to simply be perceived. I express this through the contrast between the harsh colors and geometric pattern of the background, and the dynamic usage of brushstrokes and color in the portrait. The hues in the portrait shift between yellows, reds, and blues almost constantly, implying complexity beyond what can be perceived from a monochromatic understanding. The predominant usage of green is a deliberate rejection of socially gendered colors (blue or pink), being not one, nor the other, nor a mix between the two, but a unique identity entirely. Compared to the figure, the neon of the background is jarring; a cage-like and arbitrarily imposed judgment. The title of the exhibition, The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024, also influenced my process and message.As the political climate becomes increasingly hostile toward genderqueer people, queer bodies are being treated as battlegrounds— objects of debate rather than the bodies of real, thinking, feeling, and loving individuals. This hostility blurs the line between self-love and selfhatred, making one’s body, which may already feel unfamiliar, feel even more alien. I express this paradox of the self by posing my self-portrait awkwardly, pinching and pulling at my face and hair as though they are unfamiliar. The title of my work, Ultraviolet, references colors that are invisible to the naked eye, or in this case, identity that is invisible to the uninformed observer.
Inspiration artwork:
Maria Spector, Candy Girls and Boys Under the Jellybean Tree, 2022, Gouache on paper
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Jimmy Liang
Path and Soil, Chalk pastel
Jericho Senior High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Tara Pillich
The Airborne Toxic Event by Paul Mele caught my attention. Mele is able to capture a feeling of emptiness and the void-like atmosphere. Its depiction of an apocalyptic atmosphere inspired me to portray a land where life continues after the apocalypse. I asked myself, “What do people think as they take endless steps, heading toward the deepest part of the tunnel?” The land they enter feels eternal; time has become infinite and the memory of the apocalypse remains frozen. People line up in a queue without knowing what lies ahead. All their memories have gradually sunk into the soil. Maybe there is endless darkness ahead. Maybe it’s reincarnation. Maybe it’s the void. Countless questions vanish in this tunnel. The travelers cannot see their destination, they can only keep moving forward.
Achievement Award in Drawing
Inspiration artwork:
Paul Mele, The Airborne Toxic Event, 2023, Archival pigment print
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Lexia Lindsay We Are Blind Oil on canvas
Comsewogue High School
Grade: 12
Art Teacher: Gina Melton
My self-portrait, We Are Blind, was inspired by George Grosz’s Holocaust. With my family’s long history of Jewish heritage, this piece moved something inside me. I’ve observed that while the Holocaust is widely recognized, it’s not often discussed in depth. I can understand why, as it may be difficult for families of survivors to revisit such painful experiences. I knew my family had faced prejudice, but I never fully understood the extent of their hardships. This was mainly because I didn’t ask, fearing it might stir up painful memories. After seeing Grosz’s Holocaust piece, I decided to ask my grandmother more. I realized my family’s history is more complex than I could have ever imagined. I created We Are Blind to bring awareness to the fact that society may feel uncomfortable with talking about the past, especially if it does not directly relate to or affect them. I made this mistake and want to inspire others to talk and ask questions about things that may seem uncomfortable. Grosz’s painting used lots of red and blue along with heavy contrast. I incorporated these parts of Grosz’s work into my own to emphasize the cruelty of the Holocaust. The red on the right side of the canvas shows that my eyes have been opened to the truth. I used texture and thick paint to represent the emotions of those who have suffered. I kept only blue on the left side of the canvas where my eye is covered, to represent mental blindness and innocence. When viewers look at my piece I intend for them to be inspired and not only think about the Holocaust and its impact on Jewish people, but to take a stand against all prejudice and cruelty.
Inspiration artwork: George Grosz, Holocaust, c. 1944–1949, Watercolor
From the exhibition: George Grosz: The Stick Men
Connor Markus
Synthetic Rebellion, Colored pencil
Baldwin High School, Grade: 10, Art Teacher: Michelle Liemer-Kelly
I was inspired by Andy Warhol Laptop by Dasha Bazanova. Bazanova discussed the interplay between popular culture and our digital lives. Andy Warhol’s art, with its focus on mass production and consumer culture, connects to my piece by challenging traditional notions of originality and authorship in a technology-driven world. I chose to represent the technological revolution of artificial intelligence that is consuming our world. The lady in my drawing represents artificial intelligence. She is smoking a cigarette, which is a human behavior, and has human features. This symbolizes the rapid speed that AI is advancing. AI has the ability to mock human behavior, blurring the lines between what humans perceive as real or fake.
Inspiration artwork: Dasha Bazanova, Andy Warhol Laptop, 2023, Ceramic, glaze
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Ava-Eileen McLoughlin
Resilience, Digital photograph
Mount Sinai High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Andrea Morganelli
When I first saw Stability by Alisa M. Shea, I related to the idea of trying to stabilize yourself when medicated and how mental health and self-growth is a process. For the past four years of my life, I have struggled with my mental health; oftentimes I felt broken and unfixable. My photograph resembles resilience, and one’s ability to shine through imperfection. Through the brokenness of the glass in this photo, a beauty and complexity has formed. It defies odds. It shines despite its faults, in the same way that someone who has experienced struggles can make it through and come out on the other side. I exemplified my own story by taking a fragile object, breaking it, and reforming it to something now incredibly unique.
Inspiration artwork: Alisa M. Shea, Stability, 2024, Transparent watercolor on paper
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Marceline Merzougui
2024.04.15, Crayons, pencil, colored pencil, and watercolor
New Hyde Park Memorial High School, Grade: 11
Art Teacher: Danielle Livoti
The work For Your Own Good by Blue Ruthen portrays the depersonalization that comes with psychiatric care. It inspired me to create a piece from my experiences centered around maintaining one’s identity when surrounded with unfamiliarity. This work depicts my world in the psychiatric ward. In that setting, all I had was my body and the few objects given to keep me busy. My mind was my greatest freedom, and I had expressed it any chance I had through my journal with a small soft pencil, colored pencils, and watercolor. To create this piece I restricted myself to using primarily those materials on the drawing pad and a few watercolor papers that I had in the hospital. Behind me are various coloring pages and artworks I’ve collected that I collaged and then covered with a layer of pages from my notebook. Shreds from my journal entries throughout the years are incorporated on top. Given the deep prejudice surrounding mental health and the misconceptions about the reality of psychiatric wards, my piece aims to challenge the viewer with a thought-provoking understanding.
Inspiration artwork: Blue Ruthen, For Your Own Good, 2023, Watercolor, colored pencil and gouache on paper
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
First Place, Celebrate Achievement Best in Show
Hang Mi Reunion
Oil on gessoed paper
Manhasset High chool
Grade: 11
Art Teacher: Lori Oldaker
I was drawn to the crisp clean colors and sunlit atmosphere captured in the artwork Lettuce by Madeline Daversa. My eye was immediately drawn to the individual shapes of each lettuce plant as well as the beauty of capturing a simple everyday scene. Inspired by Daversa’s depiction of a Long Island familyowned farm and the freshness of locally grown food, I created an oil painting showing the progression of preparing a meal of love from farm to table. I worked to capture the same passion and community of the farmers, but through my family and our shared household meals. The two views show the love and dedication that goes into preparing vegetables and sharing them in a hearty meal. In the upper part, garden gloves are featured, similar to those of the farm workers who diligently work with their hands to provide my family with the freshness of farm to table produce. The bottom painting is in honor of my Chinese culture, where my family shares the hot pot meal, symbolizing reunion and strength. Everyone eats from one pot, each putting in what they like, sharing traditions and passion.
Inspiration artwork: Madeline Daversa, Lettuce, 2024, Watercolor on paper
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Luis Moreno
Circles of Life, Digital art
Massapequa High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Paul Leone
Circles of Life is part of a photography series dedicated to my best friend. My photographs explore light and the beauty of everyday life. I was inspired by Emily Rose Larsen’s RYB 01 because of her exploration of shadow, filter, and color. Each photograph in my series captures time throughout a day: daylight, darkness, and in between. The artwork represents the beauty of an ordinary day—a bright singular moment in a morning or evening. Combining the morning and the evening together was when I felt that I best understood Emily Rose Larsen’s artwork.
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork: Emily Rose Larsen, RYB 01, 2023, Archival pigment print
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Ethan Mortensen
Sculpted in Strokes, Digital art
Huntington High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Kasmira Mohanty
Sculpted in Strokes is a self-portrait that was deeply inspired by Emily Rose Larsen’s artwork, RYB 02. I was particularly drawn to Larsen’s experimentation with infrared photography and the interaction of color waves, since I am currently taking advanced photography. I was curious how I could translate photographic inspiration into an abstract self portrait. I used the color palette in RYB 02 as a jumping off point. The shape of the central vase influenced the shape of my head and neck, creating a unique relationship between the two forms. My goal was if you were to turn my piece of artwork upside down it would mimic the shape of the vase in Larsen’s work. Being inspired by repeated vase shadows found in RYB 02, I chose to repeat organic lines throughout my face to accentuate the different planes of my face, hair and neck. I used a gradient in my hair to add variety and dimension to the work. I added an aura emanating from my portrait for the background to connect to Larsen’s depiction of color waves. Additionally, Larsen has mentioned that color can be therapeutic, a concept I find intriguing. I believe a person’s aura can shift based on their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, adding another layer of depth to the piece.
Inspiration artwork: Emily Rose Larsen, RYB 02, 2023, Archival pigment print
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Danielle Oleksiak
The Conspiracy, Ink
Bayport Blue Point High School, Grade: 11
Art Teacher: Tina Nadeem
The political and cynical work of George Grosz, specifically Battalion of the Hole from his Stick Men series, greatly inspired my work, The Conspiracy. Grosz’s use of simplified caricatures to express his views on society influenced my decision to adopt a similar style to explore how certain stereotypes about Jewish people are perpetuated. Grosz did not stray away from sensitive topics that many other artists might not want to discuss, and did so with a level of sophistication and class that made his message clear and understandable to the viewer. In his painting Battalion of the Hole, the people are portrayed as the same with no true identifiers given to any of the characters to show their lack of individuality in the war. In the same way, I created uniform figures in my drawing to critique how some people stereotype Jewish individuals, reducing them to a monolithic and oversimplified caricature, disregarding their true diversity.
Inspiration artwork:
George Grosz, Battalion of the Hole, 1948, Watercolor, color reed pen and pen and ink on paper
From the exhibition:
George Grosz: The Stick Men
Emma O’Reilly Veiling
Foam core, acrylic paint, LED lights
John F. Kennedy High School Grade: 11
Art Teacher: Carissa Roche
Growing up on Long Island, I rarely saw much when I looked up at the night sky. Whenever I see photos from other places showcasing skies full of stars, it almost feels surreal. Over the past few decades, light pollution has steadily increased around the world. On average, the night sky becomes 9.6% brighter each year, and if this trend continues, dark skies may soon be a thing of the past in the United States. The implications of this are far-reaching, not only affecting humans, but also wildlife that rely on the stars for navigation and migration. Mandorla by John Cino and his use of layering, texture, shape, and color empowered me to create Veiling to bring awareness to this issue of light pollution. As a sculpture student, I decided to use foam board as my medium to make a topographical map of Long Island where each layer represents a different level of light pollution concentration. I was heavily inspired by Cino’s art, especially the coarse texture and color scheme. The black shows how light pollution diminishes the ability for stargazing and the red signifies danger or warning. This artwork asks the viewer to think about their own wasteful or unnecessary use of light at night and consider its effects on our shared environment.
Inspiration artwork: John Cino, Mandorla, 2023, Acrylic and sawdust on plywood
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Ava Ortellado
Fragility and Strength
Chalk pastels, caran d’ache, oil pastels, acrylic paint, colored pencil
Hicksville High School Grade: 12
Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas
Horowitz’s work, Venus Amongst her Treasures, captures the fragility of humans. Venus, the goddess of beauty, is gradually being overtaken by the coral growing all around her. Despite being consumed by her surroundings, she remains calm and beautiful. This visual highlights the delicate balance between resilience and vulnerability, emphasizing how beauty can persist even as external forces attempt to overwhelm it. Inspired by this idea, Fragility and Strength also explores human fragility, but through a different lens. The woman in my artwork has intentionally put herself on display, allowing the viewer to see her exposed body. Despite this, she attempts to conceal her face with her hands, trying to maintain some sense of privacy or control in a space where she is otherwise fully revealed. This duality between her own exposure and protection reflects the internal struggle between wanting to be seen and fearing judgment. To reinforce the theme of fragility, I chose to draw my figure on paper similar to tissue paper, a surface that is so thin and fragile that even the smallest mistake could cause a rip or tear. These tears symbolize the vulnerability that comes with being truly seen. Each rip across her body serves as a visual representation of the ways in which a person can feel exposed, broken, or worn down by their experiences. Instead of smooth, flowing lines, the background consists of colors clashing and colliding in every direction, mirroring the unpredictable and often overwhelming nature of the world around us. Although the two ideas seem to contradict each other, they complement one another, reinforcing the notion that fragility and strength can coexist in the same space.
Inspiration artwork:
Lori Horowitz, Venus Amongst her Treasures, 2024, Aluminum, photo, fabric, paper, wood, fiber, and wax
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Alyssa Osso
Red Headphones, Colored pencil
H. Frank Carey High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Jessica Burgalassi
United in Division immediately caught my eye because of Edward Acosta’s use of color to portray the complex nature of human relationships, especially as a result of political culture. I was inspired to create my piece, Red Headphones, to depict the effect of music on anxiety. Similarly to Acosta, I used red and blue to communicate this idea. As music plays from the headphones, red spreads throughout the page pushing the blue to the edges of the paper. This displays how music provides the resources to cope and make stress from a multitude of sources present in society fade away.
Inspiration artwork: Edward Acosta, United In Division, 2024, Acrylic on canvas
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Nishita Patel
Steel Over Water, Digital art
Elmont Memorial High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Stella Grenier
Edward Acosta’s United in Division caught my eye with its exceptional use of color and movement. I was inspired by Acosta’s use of minimalism and bold color to convey complex ideas. I captured the overshadowing presence of a man-made structure through bright colors and sharp lines to contrast with the dulled organic shapes of the land. The cityscape casts a continuous shadow on the natural landscape to display the evolving standards of beauty in our world, where humans are no longer satisfied with naturally-occurring wonders and seek to mold the earth as they see fit.
Inspiration artwork:
Edward Acosta, United In Division, 2024, Acrylic on canvas
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Jillian Portuese
The Final Flicker, Colored pencil
Shoreham Wading River High School, Grade: 11
Art Teacher: Samantha Shepard
Inspired by RJT Haynes’s Executive Decision, which depicts an object engulfed in wrathful flames, The Final Flicker explores a contrasting expression of fire’s emotional power—not the explosive force of rage, but the quiet surrender of burnout. It’s the moment of inevitable transition, where the fire within begins to wane. We’re caught in a cycle of striving, achieving, and consuming, often sacrificing our well-being in the process. The glow of ambition, once a vibrant flame, extinguishes under the weight of constant pressure.
Inspiration artwork:
RJT Haynes, Executive Decision, 2022, Oil on linen
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Antonia Pribanic
The River Picnic, Oil on canvas
East Meadow High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Brian O’Neill
I was inspired by Kelynn Zena Alder’s Chamula Accordion Player, with its depiction of the Day of the Dead, to create a visual ode to the restorative power of nature and human connection. The scene of a gathering by a river, inspired by the area near my grandparents’ home in Croatia, framed by sprawling trees, reflects humanity’s desire to escape the complexities of modern life and reconnect with simpler, more peaceful moments. It captures a timeless serenity. Both pieces share a theme of personal moments within a natural setting. I kept this in mind when painting, so I could remind viewers of the importance of unity, whether in celebration, reflection, or rest. The piece by Alder sends a message of peaceful mourning of life, while my painting shows the celebration of youth and life and being in the moment. While my artwork seeks to escape reality, Chamula Accordion Player confronts it. Despite their differences, both pieces reflect the power of togetherness in various aspects of life.
Inspiration artwork:
Kelynn Zena Alder, Chamula Accordion Player, 2023, Acrylic on canvas
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Jessica Penagos’s choice of colors and mixed media in Rio Birth inspired us to create a sculpture in which the viewer is immersed in the artwork. Penagos’s use of bold color influenced us to use a range of colors to evoke a sense of joy. While starting to work with glass, shapes began to form that reminded us of flower petals. This encouraged us to build a flower garden with dragonflies out of non-traditional shapes.
Achievement Award in Sculpture
Inspiration artwork:
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Gemma Sackett & Ruby Sparling
Garden Party, Glass
Smithtown Christian School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: James Roselle
Jessica Penagos, Rio Birth, 2022, Cotton and wool thread on cotton
Erik Satanovsky
It Comes with an Ocean View
Digital art
Huntington High School
Grade: 12
Art Teacher: Kasmira Mohanty
It Comes with an Ocean View was influenced by Don’t Burn Your Bridges Behind You by Jenny Patten La Monica. I am impressed with how La Monica transforms discarded items thrown into the ocean into art, creating an opportunity to have a dialogue about man-made waste and its impact on the environment. The title Don’t Burn Your Bridges Behind You and its composition reminded me of a futuristic cityscape. Inspired by this, I began exploring different types of architecture, particularly the Brutalist style which showcased structural elements and materials without decorative embellishments. These buildings are typically large, imposing, and appear brutal in design, with bold geometric shapes and a minimalist aesthetic— elements I love exploring artistically. With these key features in mind, I wanted to construct a building that reflects the only way one might be able to enjoy the ocean in the future: through the windows of a massive Brutalist apartment complex. I used the bright colors of the lighters in La Monica’s work to paint over the concrete structure, symbolically concealing the knowledge that concrete emits a great deal of dangerous air pollution, which is linked to various health risks. The cement industry is the third largest source of industrial air pollution, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon monoxide. Painting over the cement of my building symbolizes how humanity attempts to cover up and hide the toxic emissions and waste it generates. Beneath the building lies greywater, which is typically unsuitable for contact by animals or humans. In the future I’ve envisioned, this greywater was once blue and vibrant, reinforcing the theme of nature as the victim of society’s failure to change how it interacts with the planet.
Inspiration artwork:
Jenny Patten La Monica, Don’t Burn Your Bridges Behind You, 2024, Objects found on Long Island beaches, sand on canvas
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Maia Schnaider
Three Innocents, Colored pencil
Achievement Award in Colored Pencil Visitors Choice Award
Half Hollow Hills HS West, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Amanda Montiglio
I was inspired by Teresa Cromwell’s watercolor piece, Not All Who Are Different are Broken. When I first glanced at it, I was struck by its quiet appreciation of nature. The painting depicts a man surrounded by pigeons as he tends to them with care. Despite his age and position in life, his love for the simple beauty in life remains. In my piece, Three Innocents, I aim to evoke that same feeling of admiration for the natural world. The portrait depicts me and my twin brother holding a baby bunny, our laughter capturing the essence of unfiltered joy. As children, my siblings and I have constantly been surrounded by animals, especially the baby bunnies and chickens my grandpa would bring home. To emphasize this, I used colored pencils to create a blurry background with different shades of green, immersing the children in an atmosphere of curiosity and admiration for nature’s beauty, just like the figure in Cromwell’s painting. The perspective of the portrait invites viewers to step into the scene, to feel as if they, too, are holding the bunny, experiencing this memory through the lens of a child. The title, Three Innocents, highlights the shared purity among animals and children alike; a relationship untainted by the distractions of adulthood. As we begin to grow older, we are consumed by responsibilities, yet as children we once roamed freely without any care in the world. Through this piece I encourage my viewers to reconnect with their inner child, and begin to see the beauty through a youthful point of view, like the figure in Cromwell’s painting and the children in my drawing.
Inspiration artwork:
Teresa Cromwell, Not All Who Are Different are Broken, 2023, Watercolor on Arches paper
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Estiven Segovia Ticas
Chromatic Flora and Fauna in Motion
Digital art
Huntington High School Grade: 12
Art Teacher: Kasmira Mohanty
My artwork, Chromatic Flora and Fauna in Motion, draws inspiration from the dynamic interplay of color and shapes found in Karen L. Kirshner’s The Mission. The vibrant and exuberant color scheme starkly contrasts with the depiction of a Ukrainian cityscape in chaos due to war. This left me feeling conflicted, so I decided to research the war in Ukraine to help develop a concept for my artwork. During my research, I came across a review by Lorene Edwards Forkner of the film Gardening in a War Zone, a Floret Original Film produced by Erin Benzakein. The film is about Alla Olkhovska, a gardener in Kharkiv who was unable to leave the country because of the war. She faced the even greater challenge of being the sole provider for her extended family. Resourceful, Alla began selling seeds from her garden to make a living. I thought it was incredible that someone could survive and find hope and beauty in something so fundamental, even as it remained in constant jeopardy of being destroyed. In her own words, she states, “It is very important to me to have fresh flowers, and I do it despite everything, even when it’s really hard. It helps me cope with the problems.” I wanted to honor her efforts and courage by depicting flora and fauna using the color, energy, and movement found in Kirshner’s work. In my piece, the vivid color palette acts as a visual language that breathes life into the flora and fauna, mirroring the structures and symbols present in The Mission. My composition demonstrates growth, transformation, and the continuation of life in the face of great adversity.
Achievement Award in Digital Art
Inspiration artwork:
Karen L. Kirshner, The Mission, 2022, Acrylic on canvas
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Aleena Stanfield
New Home, Prismacolors, acrylic paint, oil pastels, markers
Centereach High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Shelby Petruzzo
New Home, inspired by the piece Wild Fire by Lisa Stanko, is a representation of what the future may bring. Stanko shows the effects of climate change on our forests and our land. My ideas stem from this concept of destruction. I wanted to express my concern about the everincreasing pollution in our world and the devastating impact it has on our planet. We hear so many warnings and ideas about how to stop global warming, but it feels like not much is actually being done. People take more pleasure in talking about what they will do, rather than what they did. The connection I am trying to share between these two pieces of art is how, without change, this grey and dullish earth could easily be our new home. The horrors that we may face due to our own negligence aren’t far from becoming reality.
Inspiration artwork: Lisa Stanko, Wild Fire, 2024, Acrylic on canvas
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Deep Beneath the Surface, Ceramic
Hicksville High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas
Deep Beneath the Surface was inspired by Lauren Skelly Bailey’s To Embrace. The variety of colors on Skelly Bailey’s vessel with incorporations of 14-karat gold luster stood out to me. Skelly Bailey speaks about the cyclical life of marine animals living in old-worn-out environments, the depletion of resources causing the slow death of organisms in aquatic life, and how that is a platform for new growth. My artwork depicts a variety of abstracted coral-like objects. The fragile pieces are displayed on the wall, bringing attention to the delicate nature of life in the sea. The three ceramic pieces, although separate physically, show the interconnectedness of life. The shapes of the pieces flow with one another, expressing how marine life is interconnected. Though corals are sensitive to many stress factors, they can persevere with the right surroundings, just like humans. We are affected by our environment and changing what or who is around us can allow for both growth and loss. This work is a reminder of the importance of protecting our coral reefs which are constantly facing threats like climate change, pollution, and overfishing. We as humans need to do more to protect our environment.
Second Place, Judith Sposato Memorial Prize
Inspiration artwork:
Lauren Skelly Bailey, To Embrace, 2023, Wood fired clay, with multiple firings, 14 kt gold luster
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Xaria Talavera
Isabella Thames
Epiphany, Digital photograph
Malverne High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Maura Minor
Epiphany was inspired by Nature Tag by James E. Rice, whose surreal piece encourages you to investigate and explore its various details; the more you look, the more there is to find and see. I love the sense of discovery that unfolds as you continue to explore. The drawing is soft with an almost psychedelic effect that makes you dive deeper into the features of the ever-moving organic crevasses. Epiphany uses a blend of botanical pictures that I took over this year in the forest to create a similar atmosphere to Nature Tag. My photo montage centers on a pink flower, but as you look more closely, you discover the branches and the leaves forming a unified expression of nature’s beauty. This phenomenon reflects how I perceive the natural beauty of these botanical wonders.
Inspiration artwork:
James E. Rice, Nature Tag, 2024, Polychromos colored pencils on paper
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Xavier Tian
Freya, Acrylic on canvas
Syosset High School, Grade: 10, Art Teacher: Demi Protonentis
When visiting the Heckscher Museum, I was struck by the photo-like quality and the messaging of the painting Church Bus by Ezra Thompson. The strong lighting along with the nostalgic composition immediately caught my attention. Freya is inspired by a photo on the screen of my Sony digital camera. I am very interested in the quality of photos taken with older digital cameras, as they have a sharpness and particular lighting that modern cell phone cameras cannot achieve. Just as Church Bus illustrates a slice of life, Freya pictures a special moment, which may seem small now, but will hold more significance in the future.
Stepping Stone Award
Inspiration artwork:
Ezra Thompson, Church Bus, 2022, Oil on canvas
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Amelia Townsend
A Walk-Through History Pen
Uniondale High School Grade: 12
Art Teacher: Brianna Jacobs
Donald and Gloria Horn Scholarship Award
I was inspired by the line work in the piece America the Beautiful by Jeremy Grand. Each stroke had a purpose that merged into one masterpiece. Reading the meaning behind America the Beautiful made me think about my environment. Both America The Beautiful and my piece, A WalkThrough History, are snapshots of the negative reality of America rather than the typical “American Dream.” A Walk-Through History is a reflection of my neighborhood. The top half of the piece shows the different areas of my neighborhood that portray the underprivileged environment that I live in. The bottom half are snapshots from parts of my county where it’s predominantly white and well-funded. I wanted to show the difference between communities through messy and unclear linework in contrast to the clearly defined and strategically placed lines for communities that are supported. The society I live in mirrors the segregation of neighborhoods from the 1800s, where clear divides existed. This contrast inspired the creation of A Walk-Through History
Inspiration artwork: Jeremy Grand, America the Beautiful, 2024, Pen and ink on paper From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Shayna Troyanovsky
Phone Face, Oil on canvas
Division Avenue High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Timothy Ryan
This piece was inspired by the work Searching for Wisdom, Connecting to the Source by Anna Jurinich. Phone Face depicts an individual who is entirely consumed by his cellular device, going as far as to tie it onto his face. This perspective on how technology has transformed our world shows obsession and dissociation. The piece captures the constant bombardment of digital stimuli, and critiques the pervasive influence of technology on human relations. It serves as a poignant reminder of the need to have balance and not allow yourself to succumb to a virtual atmosphere. The dark atmosphere, which contrasts the bright cellphone and tape, allows for a visual representation of the feeling of being entirely consumed by your phone, feeling as though the rest of the world is a void.
Inspiration artwork:
Anna Jurinich, Searching for Wisdom, Connecting to the Source, 2024, Acrylic on paper
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Charlotte Tsekerides
Unspoken Bond, Charcoal and watercolor on paper
Cold Spring Harbor High School, Grade: 12
Art Teacher: Christine Oswald
I drew inspiration from the color palette and horses in John Lewis; the Last Crossing. I showed fluidity in the white horse’s shape to reference the motion in Macarrulla’s painting. Through my AP Drawing and Painting class, I’ve explored the relationships between animals, as well as their connections to our own lives. I vowed to myself to respect creatures equally, which I strive to do through vegetarianism. By focusing on animals in my artwork, I hope to reveal the unspoken bond between man and animal.
Inspiration artwork: Manuel Alejandro Macarrulla, John Lewis; the Last Crossing., 2024, Oil bars, oil pastels, and pencil on paper
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Neha Tuladhar
“Can’t
Make It, I Think This Works, Wait, I Forgot…”
Acrylic on canvas
Hicksville High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Craig Mateyunas
When I first saw Andrea Baatz’s piece, Schooling Patterns: Discontinuity, I was captivated by her idea to isolate the subjects by eliminating the background. With no background, it allowed me to focus on the subject matter without being distracted by anything else. This idea also toys with the concept of isolation and how lonely a person can feel as they navigate their day. Within my piece, I hoped to capture the lack of time students have with everything they have to do. This is an issue especially with grade inflation and how difficult it is to stick out as an applicant to colleges. As a result, many students feel pressured to volunteer, play sports, and join clubs while balancing school and possibly a job. They sacrifice their free time, isolating themselves and unable to relax or relieve stress. My painting depicts multiple figures of the same person looking at a weekly planner and trying to organize it. I illustrated the feeling of having too many things to do and the feeling of needing to be in multiple places at the same time. When a person is overwhelmed by the workload they are continuously given, time begins to feel like an empty void, with the individual stuck in an endless loop of planning.
Lisa Hock Memorial Award
Inspiration artwork: Andrea Baatz, Schooling Patterns: Discontinuity, 2022, Silkscreen on YUPO paper From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Samantha Urmaza
Manananggal (Severance), Gouache and acrylic on wood panel, found objects, embroidery thread, glass beads
Harborfields High School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Eugenia Ritter
I was inspired by Ruth Douzinas’s use of stitchwork and textiles to explore both connection and repair in her work, Star Store. I aimed to create a sense of detachment and chaos by unraveling and tangling thread. As a part of my series exploring Filipino mythology, I decided to create a piece inspired by the “manananggal.” The “manananggal” is a spirit who takes the form of a young, beautiful woman during the day. At night, its torso detaches from its lower body to feed on the vulnerable—pregnant women, children, babies. The “manananggal,” while rooted in native folklore, was weaponized against indigenous Filipino women during Spanish colonization. Women who did not fit conservative Western standards, such as leaders, priestesses, and healers, were considered heretics and therefore deemed incarnations of the malicious spirit. Through this piece, I not only wanted to highlight the separated, visceral physicality of the “manananggal,” but also the emotional and societal alienation of women who reject the public’s expectations.
Inspiration artwork:
Ruth Douzinas, Star Store, 2024, Silkscreen kitchen rag, repaired with thread
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Gabriella Vario
Trypophobia, Starbursts candy
Sayville High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Evan Hammer
My artwork is influenced by the discomfort I feel when confronted with certain topics and visuals, especially the idea of small, randomly placed holes. This phobia, trypophobia, which I have learned to share with others, is more than feeling uneasy: it represents personal fear. Mandorla by John Cino connects to a larger theme of confronting what makes us uncomfortable and challenging our views of the world around us. Through my art, I try to confront these emotions such as discomfort. I unwrapped approximately sixty Starburst candies and molded them together. I reheated pre-hardened Starbursts for about nine weeks. I used the back of a paint brush to create holes, snapped two paint brushes, and chipped the paint off another. I believe this process has helped me explore my discomfort with materials to create something visual that embodies how I feel. I hope that by exposing these fears, I open up conversations and inspire others to face their anxieties with courage and creativity.
Virtual Visitors Choice Award
Inspiration artwork: John Cino, Mandorla, 2023, Acrylic and sawdust on plywood
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Crisbel Verdugo
Mama Michi
Acrylic on canvas
Hicksville High School Grade: 11
Art Teacher:
Craig Mateyunas
Chamula Accordion Player by Kelynn Zena Alder caught my attention with its cultural significance and the golden yellow of the marigolds and vibrant turquoise colors. The painting displays a man playing the accordion for his recently deceased mother in order to convey his endearment towards her on Día de los Muertos. All Hispanic cultures have their own unique and caring way to honor the deceased and keep their memories alive. As a young Ecuadorian woman myself, my greatgrandmother’s memory is kept alive through stories about her that are shared amongst my family. My goal for this piece was to capture the essence of my great-grandmother who was described by friends, family, and neighbors as kind and thoughtful. My painting, named after my great-grandmother, “Mama Michi,” shows her reading the newspaper alongside bread that she made herself. Reading the local newspaper, “Heraldo,” was something that she would do every day. Mama Michi loved baking and sold the bread she made in her small town back in Ecuador. She was a very generous woman who would always give out food to the poor even when she didn’t have much herself. My painting has very distinct parts that are a teal blue and rich golden yellow, which I feel are colors that complement each other and bring warmth and a feeling of peace to the painting. This piece is about honoring a woman who always treated others with kindness and love.
Inspiration artwork:
Kelynn Zena Alder, Chamula Accordion Player, 2023, Acrylic on canvas
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Angela Vlavianos
Deep Memory, Ink
New Hyde Park Memorial High School, Grade: 11
Art Teacher: Danielle Livoti
Heart and Soul of Greece by Sheryl Ruth Kolitsopoulos caught my attention with its simple art style, yet intricate details that I wanted to recreate in my own work. Deep Memory resembles the simple landscapes and the intricate lifestyle of an average citizen in Greece. I connected with this piece on a deeper level as I recently had the privilege of visiting my mother’s family in Greece—my ‘heart and soul’ had been left in Greece. Every morning my mother would point out the sailboats off the coast in the Agiou Georgiou Bay. We watched as each sailboat would coast into the dock by my grandfather’s restaurant and sail back out into the horizon. I decided to take the simplicity of Kolitsopoulos’s work and implement it into a drawing of a sailboat made of ink. The permanency of the ink symbolizes that my ‘heart and soul’ is permanently in Greece, and the sailboats evoke the nostalgic memories floating away… eventually disintegrating until I return to my home.
Inspiration artwork:
Sheryl Ruth Kolitsopoulos, Heart and Soul of Greece, 2024, Stone lithograph
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Jessie Wan
Canned Passion, Acrylic on canvas
Syosset High School, Grade: 10, Art Teacher: Demi Protonentis
Executive Decision by RJT Haynes portrays a breathtaking use of colors and high contrast to convey a deeper meaning. The beautifully painted flames popping out against the black background struck me and stayed in my mind throughout my visit to the museum. In my piece, Canned Passion, I took inspiration from that use of contrasting colors to add my own take. I chose to paint crushed cans because it’s something that is commonly seen as trash, similar to the chair in Executive Decision, which is commonly seen as insignificant office furniture. However, when you put them onto canvas, they become art and tell a story. I used oranges and blues to draw the eye in and catch the attention of the viewers through the use of contrasting colors, just as RJT Haynes’s painting did for me. In addition, inspired by Executive Decision, I wanted the cans to appear to float around and pop out against the negative space.
Inspiration artwork:
RJT Haynes, Executive Decision, 2022, Oil on linen
From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Xihao Wang
The Intrusion of Liberty, Oil on canvas
The Stony Brook School, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Marisa D’Ulisse
Inspired by the discussion of femininity and masculinity raised in Maria Spector’s painting, Candy Girls and Boys Under the Jellybean Tree, I reflected on my own experience of getting my ears pierced. When I was growing up, the definition of manhood taught in my household was all about being strong and “acting like a man,” as my dad always said. However, as I looked in the mirror at the boy with two glittering dots on his ears, a rush of inexplicable happiness overwhelmed me. It was a moment of self-discovery, a step towards unveiling my true self. My piece, The Intrusion of Liberty, portrays my experience while getting my ears pierced for the first time. It symbolizes the first step that made me rebel against the inherent and fixed framework for manhood passed down from generation to generation in my family. Looking at the mirror, I gaze at the two shiny earrings. Recalling the sudden pain pierced through my ear lobes, I liberated myself from that fixed definition of manhood.
Renzo & Lynette Bianchi Scholarship Award
Inspiration artwork:
Maria Spector, Candy Girls and Boys Under the Jellybean Tree, 2022, Gouache on paper
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Paige Wells
Tom and Jerry TV, Ceramic
General Douglas MacArthur HS, Grade: 12, Art Teacher: Luke Merz
I was inspired by Dasha Bazanova’s ceramic work, Andy Warhol Laptop, as it highlighted the impact of digital content on our culture. I created a television displaying Tom from Tom and Jerry, symbolizing how technology deeply influences people’s lives. My piece is reminiscent of my childhood, where watching various television shows brought me happiness. My TV depicts an older model, emphasizing how, despite the evolution of technology and pop culture over time, these influences continue to endure and shape our daily lives. When we think about how we consume media today, it’s all about streaming shows and sharing moments online. Those classic cartoons, like Tom and Jerry, shaped our childhoods and created shared experiences that we still talk about today. The way we engage with these shows has changed, but their impact remains strong. Andy Warhol Laptop uses Warhol’s figure and emoticons to explore the evolution of communication and consumerism through technology. Similarly, my Tom and Jerry TV uses the characters popping out of the screen to symbolize how deeply technology and pop culture influence our lives. Both artworks highlight how technology isn’t just a tool, but a medium that shapes our experiences and memories; each transcend the screen in which they are seen.
Inspiration artwork:
Dasha Bazanova, Andy Warhol Laptop, 2023, Ceramic, glaze
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Kaitlyn Wu
Eternal Breath
Acrylic on canvas with found objects
William A. Shine Great Neck South High School Grade: 11
Art Teachers: Megan Cashman & Max Handelman
My vibrant piece Eternal Breath is an interpretation of Lauren Skelly Bailey’s intricate sculpture, To Embrace. Skelly Bailey’s piece gracefully encapsulates the feeling of being submerged beneath the ocean, suspended in time, evoking the ocean’s ragged and tranquil character. As someone who would often go snorkeling, these are characteristics I happen to be all too familiar with—whether it be floating, swimming, or drowning. It’s another world below the surface; life is apparent in every corner of my eye. Everything sways, darts, and moves. Navy blue, wine red, emerald green—any color you can name—is found down here. This vibrant and welcoming mess of color is reflected on my canvas. However, an additional prominent feeling being portrayed is eeriness. Fish, that take the form of lifeless bone, are seen as a constant reminder of the infected sea life that we eat. An encompassing green toxic hue covers my entire piece. A collection of trash I’ve acquired from garbage bins, sidewalks, and my friends is arranged at the ocean floor. My piece is a lingering reminder that the world is sometimes too toxic for beautiful life to flourish.
Inspiration artwork:
Lauren Skelly Bailey, To Embrace, 2023, Wood fired clay, with multiple firings, 14 kt gold luster
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Xiaoyu Yang
Their Pleasure Leisure, Acrylic on canvas
Roslyn High School, Grade: 11, Art Teacher: Richard Ritter
I was amazed at how Robert V. Guido captured the emotions of the two people so precisely in Two on Broadway. The image itself was simple, but it conveyed a powerful sense of emotion—a silent scream. A few weeks later, I was in a hotel with my family. The hotel had a small laundry room, barely big enough for three people. As I entered, I froze in the doorway; I saw a mother and her child huddled together. In that quiet moment, I caught a glimpse of their peaceful moment. A wordless warmth filled my heart as I noticed the smiles on their faces. Their emotion was so powerful that it made me forget about the narrow space I was in. I didn’t stay long and quietly left the laundry room. Later, I painted the scene from memory. That’s when I realized the emotion I had felt in that moment was the same strong, unspoken feeling I experienced after seeing the photograph at the exhibition. Both works left a vivid emotional impression on me, even though I had already forgotten the finer details.
Inspiration artwork:
Robert V. Guido, Two On Broadway, 2022, Archival inkjet print
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Henry Zhao
Tissue Culture, Acrylic on canvas
Cold Spring Harbor High School, Grade: 12
Art Teacher: Christine Oswald
I was inspired by Jeremy Grand’s piece America the Beautiful. The phrase “concrete jungles where dreams are made of,” from Jay-Z’s “Empire State of Mind,” also represents a concept in my abstract work. I am a botanical enthusiast and I invite the viewer to imagine the skyscrapers as trees. The tree buildings split up, turning into a stack of tissues, each printed with a floral pattern. These patterns grow into more colorful trees. They sprout and billow throughout the city.
Inspiration artwork:
Jeremy Grand, America the Beautiful, 2024, Pen and ink on paper
From the exhibition:
The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Lyla Zwolak
Drifting, Colored pencil
Shoreham Wading River High School, Grade: 10
Art Teacher: Samantha Shepard
I was inspired by Nathaniel Schindler’s Holy, Holy (Self Portrait) and how Schindler was able to share their personal experiences through life and how it affected them as a person. I chose to create this piece to express the feeling of drifting through life with only yourself to rely on. At times, everything can feel overwhelming and out of control, much like the ocean in this work. The bathtub symbolizes my personal space—the aspects of my life that I can control and change. I drew myself in the middle of this with a tired and sorrowful expression to show how it affects me.
Inspiration artwork: Nathaniel Schindler, Holy, Holy (Self Portrait), 2022, Oil on canvas with gold leaf From the exhibition: The Body Politic: Long Island Biennial 2024
Acknowledgements
67 schools across Nassau and Suffolk Counties submitted artwork for jurying for the 2025 exhibition. Thank you to all of the participating schools, administrators, and teachers for your dedication! Your hard work and support make this exhibition possible.
Amityville Memorial High School
Amityville Union Free School District
Dr. John Cardone, Principal
Dr. Frances Fernandez, Dir. of Fine Arts & Music
Jayne Grasso, Art Teacher
Baldwin High School
Baldwin Union Free School District
Dr. Neil Testa, Principal
Andre Poprilo, Director of Fine & Performing Arts
Michelle Liemer-Kelly, Art Teacher
Meredith Healy, Art Teacher
Bay Shore High School
Baldwin Union Free School District
Stephen Gordon, Principal
Michael Rotello, Director of Fine & Performing Arts
Margaret Schultz, Art Teacher
Bayport-Blue Point High School
Bayport-Blue Point Union Free School District
Jamal Walcott, Principal
Paul Weber, Chairperson for Art & Music
Samantha Burns, Art Teacher
Jennifer Giallanza, Art Teacher
Tina Nadeem, Art Teacher
Frank Salino, Art Teacher
Bellport High School
South Country Central School
Erika DellaRosa, Principal
Barbara Gallagher, Art Department Chairperson
Devin Auricchio, Art Teacher
Centereach High School
Middle Country Central School District
Tom Bell, Principal
Dr. Diana Cook, Director of Art & Music
Shelby Petruzzo, Art Teacher
Karissa LaLima, Art Teacher
Central Islip High School
Central Islip Union Free School District
Eric Haruthunian, Principal
Tanesha Hunter, Assistant Principal
Nicole Castelli, Art Teacher
Cold Spring Harbor High School
Cold Spring Harbor Union Free School District
Dan Danbusky, Principal
Christine Oswald, Chairperson of Art
Laura Cirino, Art Teacher
Christine Oswald, Art Teacher
Comsewogue High School
Comsewogue School District
Michael Mosca, Principal
Michelle Latauto, Director
Gina Melton, Art Teacher
Deer Park High School
Deer Park School District
Charles Cobb, Principal
Bradley Murphy, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Derek Mainhart, Art Teacher
Division Avenue High School
Levittown Union Free School District
John Coscia, Principal
Frank Creter, Director of Art & Music
Timothy Ryan, Art Teacher
East Meadow High School
East Meadow Union Free School District
Richard Howard, Principal
Heather Anastasio, District Art Chair
Brian O’Neill, Art Teacher
Cecelia Fisher, Art Teacher
East Rockaway High School
East Rockaway School District
Richard Schaffer, Principal
Peter Ceglio, Fine Arts Chairperson
Kelly Cabasso, Art Teacher
Elmont Memorial High School
Sewanhaka Central High School District
Marya Barker, Principal
Chris Yee, Art Department Chairperson
Stella Grenier, Art Teacher
Farmingdale High School
Farmingdale Union Free School District
Kevin Dougherty, Principal
Greg Warnokowski, Director of Art
Lisa Gramarossa, Art Teacher
Laura Steffen, Art Teacher
Garden City High School
Garden City Union Free School District
Kevin Steingruebner, Principal
Amanda Hauser, Coord. of Music & the Arts
Shawn Uttendorfer, Art Teacher
General Douglas MacArthur High School
Levittown Union Free School District
Joseph Sheehan, Principal
Frank Creter, Director of Art & Music
Tom Bobal, Art Teacher
Luke Merz, Art Teacher
Rebecca Muir, Art Teacher
Deja Vance, Art Teacher
Glen Cove High School
Glen Cove School District
Alan Hudson III, Principal
Lawrence Nadel, District Coord. of Art
Melissa Johnides, Art Teacher
LeeAnn Palazzo, Art Teacher
H. Frank Carey High School
Sewanhaka Central High School District
Jennifer Alaimo, Principal
Jessica Burgalassi, Art Dept. Chairperson
Jessica Burgalassi, Art Teacher
Half Hollow Hills High School East
Half Hollow Hills Central School District
Dr. Milton Strong, Principal
Jon Trapani, Director of Fine Arts
Tania Godoy, Art Teacher
Kim Norris, Art Teacher
Allyson Uttendorfer, Art Teacher
Half Hollow Hills High School West
Half Hollow Hills Central School District
Dr. Michael Catapano, Principal
Jon Trapani, Director of Fine Arts
Jennifer levolo, Art Teacher
Amanda Montiglio, Art Teacher
Jeanette Norry, Art Teacher
Harborfields High School
Harborfields Central School District
Dr. Phillip Farrelly, Principal
Elizabeth DeVaney, Arts Coordinator
Elizabeth DeVaney, Art Teacher
Jeanie Ritter, Art Teacher
Herricks High School
Herricks Union Free School District
Joan Keegan, Principal
Anissa Arnold, Director of Art & Music
Jennifer Cavalluzzo, Art Teacher
Alexis Donza, Art Teacher
Allyson Zebrowski, Art Teacher
Hicksville High School
Hicksville Union Free School District
Raymond Williams, Principal
Chad Wyman, Supervisor of Fine Arts
Angela Galante, Art Teacher
Craig Mateyunas, Art Teacher
Michelle Lesser, Art Teacher
Huntington Fine Arts
Michael Mack, Director
Lenore Hanson, Art Teacher
Emily Martin, Art Teacher
Huntington High School
Huntington Union Free School District
Rochelle Brown, Principal
Kimberly Musial, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Ayallah Jeddah, Art Teacher
Kasmira Mohanty, Art Teacher
Pamela Piffard, Art Teacher
Kristin Singer, Art Teacher
Jericho High School
Jericho Union Free School District
Brian Cummings, Interim Co-Principal
Dr. Joseph Prisinzano, Co-Principal
Ruth Breidenback, CA for Fine & Perform. Arts
Bryan Ciminelli, Art Teacher
Tara Pillich, Art Teacher
John F. Kennedy High School
Bellmore-Merrick Central HS District
Gerard Owenburg, Principal
Cheryl Fontana, Dir. Fine & Performing Arts
Vanessa Albaneze, Art Teacher
Taylor Lodespoto, Art Teacher
Sarah Ritchie, Art Teacher
Carissa Roche, Art Teacher
Lindenhurst High School
Lindenhurst Union Free School District
Dr. Matthew Boccanfuso, Principal
Dr. Robert Lombardo, Dir. of Fine & Perf. Arts
Tara Biscardi, Art Teacher
Long Beach High School
Long Beach Union Free School District
Jeffrey Meyers, Principal
Julia Lang-Shapiro, Dir. of Media, Visual, Perf. Arts
Eric Fox, Art Teacher
Joanne Harvey, Art Teacher
Marlon Lainez, Art Teacher
Lorraine Levchenko, Art Teacher
Long Island High School For The Arts
Laura Vega, Principal
Jason Cuvelier, Art Teacher
Malverne High School
Malverne Union Free School District
Kesha Bascombe, Principal
Mike Messina, Fine Arts Chairperson
Nick Alleva, Art Teacher
Maura Minor, Art Teacher
Manhasset High School
Manhasset Union Free School District
Dr. Richard Roder, Principal
Dr. Joseph Owens, Dir. of Fine & Perf. Arts
Lori Oldaker, Art Teacher
Massapequa High School
Massapequa Union Free School District
Barbara Lowell, Principal
Vincent Green, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Paul Leone, Art Teacher
Mount Sinai High School
Mount Sinai School District
Peter Pramataris, Principal
Tricia Panasci , Art and Music Director
Andrea Morganelli, Art Teacher
New Hyde Park High School
Sewanhaka Central School District
Rosemary DeGennaro, Principal
Katrin Marino, Art Department Chairperson
Danielle Livoti, Art Teacher
Newfield High School
Middle County Central School District
Scott Graviano, Principal
Dr. Diana Cook, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Salvatore Berretta, Art Teacher
Northport High School
Northport-East Northport School District
Robert Dennis, Principal
Dr. Izzet Mergen, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
John DeRosa, Art Teacher
Christine Driscoll, Art Teacher
Anthony Kilnger-Cooley, Art Teacher
Oyster Bay High School
Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District
Melissa Argaman, Principal
Erica Giglio Pac, Supervisor, Fine & Performing Art
Scott Boris, Art Teacher
Maria Randazzo, Art Teacher
Patchogue-Medford High School
Patchogue-Medford School District
Dr. Randy Rusielewicz, Principal
Nathan Brinkman, Dir. of Art, Music & Cultural Arts
Grace Anello, Art Teacher
Heather Rickard, Art Teacher
Portledge School
Simon Owen-Williams, Head of School
John Greene, Department Chair
Jerry Krause, Art Teacher
Roslyn High School
Roslyn Union Free School District
Scott Andrews, Principal
Dave Lazarus, Assistant Principal
Richard Ritter, Art Teacher
Sachem High School East
Sachem Central School District
Louis Antonetti, Principal
Amanda Foran, Art Chairperson
Diana DelVallez, Art Teacher
Katrina Wrigley, Art Teacher
Saint Mary’s High School
Gerard Buckley, Principal
Beata Szyszkowska, Art Teacher
Sayville High School
Sayville Union Free School District
Stephanie Bricker, Principal
Debra Urso, Art Chairperson
Jennifer Berotti, Art Teacher
Evan Hammer, Art Teacher
Shoreham-Wading River
Shoreham-Wading River Central SD
Frank Pugliese, Principal
Jason Andria, Art Teacher
Samantha Shepard, Art Teacher
Smithtown Christian School
Tracy Berner, Principal
James Roselle, Department Chairperson
Smithtown High School East
Smithtown Central School District
Robert Rose, Principal
Victoria Hartman, Director of Fine Arts
Christopher Lauto, Art Teacher
Smithtown High School West
Smithtown Central School District
William Holl, Principal
Victoria Hartman, Director of Fine Arts
Lauren George, Art Teacher
South Side High School
Rockville Centre School District
Dr. Patrick Walsh, Principal
Kathleen Mark, Director of Fine Arts
Keith Gamache, Art Teacher
Stella K. Abraham High School for Girls
Bluma Drebin, Principal
Nikki Mehl, Art Teacher
The Stony Brook School
Joshua Crane, Principal
Marisa D’Ulisse, Art Teacher
Syosset High School
Syosset Central District
Dr. Giovanni Durante, Principal
Michael Salzman, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Steven Malafis, Art Teacher
Demi Protonentis, Art Teacher
Uniondale High School
Uniondale Union Free School District
Dr. Shawn Brown, Principal
Kelvin Jenkins, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Brianna Jacobs, Art Teacher
Valley Stream Central High School
Valley Stream Central High School District
Candace Hugee, Principal
Dr. Adam Erdos, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Mario Bakalov, Art Teacher
Valley Stream North High School
Valley Stream Central High School District
Dr. Robin Small, Principal
Dr. Adam Erdos, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Allan Nafte, Art Teacher
Valley Stream South High School
Valley Stream Central High School District
Matthew Swinson, Principal
Dr. Adam Erdos, Dir. of Fine & Performing Arts
Ed Lee, Art Teacher
W. C. Mepham High School
Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District
Anthony DeMartinis, Principal
Andrew R. Del Rosario, Art Chairperson
Christine Stevens, Art Teacher
Marissa Graña, Art Teacher
W. T. Clarke High School
East Meadow Union Free School District
Timothy Voels, Principal
Heather Anastasio, Director of Music & Art
Jeannene Arcuri, Art Teacher
Marlena Dentrone, Art Teacher
Walt Whitman High School
South Huntington Union Free School District
Dr. John Murphy, Interim Principal
Matthew Hoffman, Art Chairperson
Erica Raji, Art Teacher
Jessica Flinn, Art Teacher
Gina Tinucci, Art Teacher
West Hempstead Secondary School
West Hempstead Union Free School District
Joseph Pumo, Principal
Laila Sales, Director of Fine, Perf., Culinary Arts
Cassie Ross-Dinin, Art Teacher
West Islip High School
West Islip Union Free School District
Andrew O’Farrell, Principal
Eric Albinder, Art and Music Director
Linda Marino, Art Teacher
Westbury High School
Westbury Union Free School District
David Zimbler, Principal
Nidia Keaveny, District-Wide Art Chair
Natasha Korzeniewski, Art Teacher
Michelle Perez, Art Teacher
Sarah St. John, Art Teacher
William A. Shine Great Neck South High School
Great Neck School District
Adam Hopkins, Interim Principal
Karen Cuchel, Art Department Chairperson
Megan Cashman, Art Teacher
Max Handelman, Art Teacher
William Floyd High School High School
William Floyd Union Free School District
Philip Scotto, Principal
Theresa Bianco, Art Chairperson
Theresa Bianco, Art Teacher
Wyandanch High School
Wyandanch School District
Paul Sibblies, Principal
Jill Pepe, Art Teacher
Front cover: Xaria Talavera, Deep Beneath the Surface, Ceramic
Hicksville High School, Grade: 11, Art
Teacher: Craig Mateyunas; Back cover: Ariana Jabbar, Who Are We?, Textile and tree branch, Long Beach High School, Grade 11, Art Teacher: Eric Fox
