Art by Surrey Secondary Students

Every year, Surrey Art Gallery collaborates with the Surrey School District and the Surrey Art Teachers Association to produce an exhibition of works by students from across the city, alternating between elementary and secondary schools. 

This year’s edition of Art by Surrey Secondary Students features a new cohort of creative young artists demonstrating a high calibre of technical skill and creative thinking. In addition to the traditional forms of drawing, painting, and photography, the show also includes ceramics, with excellent sculptures of hybrid animals, portrait vases, and whimsical storage boxes.

Through the encouragement of their teachers, art students develop their skills in mark-making, composition, and form while studying historical and contemporary movements and artists for guidance and inspiration in the pursuit of their own ideas. The exhibition includes statements from both students and teachers, allowing visitors to understand the relationship between the educational curriculum and the development of young peoples’ critical thinking and visualization skills.

The works on display offer insight into some of the key topics of this year’s collective, addressing themes such as climate change, the influence and consumption of social media, and personal identity. These themes are reflected through self-portraiture, experimental film photography, and pop culture satire. Expressions of hope, personal growth, and transition are also on display, signaling optimism for the future. 

Origin of Exhibition: Surrey School District