Competition brief: In a world that faces many challenges, from environmental crisis to social divides, art can be a device of healing and transformation. This competition invites artists to explore the aspects of reparative and regenerative qualities in art. What is reparative, how can we mend what has been broken, and how can we foster growth and repair within ourselves, communities, and environments?

Students were asked to write an artist statement with their entry that communicates how their artwork relates to the theme.

Criteria to consider: Interpretation of the theme, technical skill, and originality (all artwork must be original ideas and created entirely by the students; no artwork depicting characters from TV shows, movies, video games or books will be accepted).

Lower Grade Entries

Rise of Renewal:Robots Rebuilding the City
Aaron Sun, Grade 3
Medium: Colored pencils

Statement: What I drew is a city that has been damaged. The AI-robots and drones are repairing the damaged buildings and infrastructures, which is regeneration. They help people to rebuild their lives and communities after disasters much more quickly and safely.

Reparative and Regenerative
Angela Lyu, Grade 3
Medium: Mixed media

Statement: The artwork, Reparative and Regenerative, captures the essence of renewal and resilience. It tells the story of a young girl who discovers a tree destroyed by fire. Instead of mourning, she salvages the unburned wood and brings it home. With patience and determination, she repurposes it, replacing her broken desk with a stronger, more refined one. This transformation conveys a powerful message: even after destruction, new beginnings can emerge—stronger and more resilient than before.

Jester Regenerated the World
Edward Li, Kindergarten
Medium: Paint

Statement: One day, a sad jester stood on a wobbly, colorful bridge. Everything around him was broken—mountains were upside down, socks were lost, and pieces of the world were all mixed up! But the magic clock in the middle went tick-tock, and something amazing happened. The broken things started fixing themselves! Flowers grew, mountains stood tall again, and even a tiny frog appeared! The jester found a little giggle hiding in his pocket, threw it into the air, and—POOF!—colors sparkled everywhere. His frown turned into a big, silly smile. The world wasn’t broken anymore—it was growing back even better!

Whale Fall
Grace Ma, Grade 1
Medium: Watercolor and crayons

Statement: Whales are the largest and one of the longest-living animals on earth. They are born in the sea, grow in the sea, nourish the sea and eventually die at sea. When a whale falls, everything grows. The death of a whale is transformed into a long-term source of nutrients in the deep sea, contributing to the diversity of life and spurs renewal of the ocean ecosystem. Life is fleeting, the spirit endures. In a world full of challenges, the spiritual legacy passed from generation to generation will help heal what's broken, creating a cycle of continual regeneration and renewal.

Plant to Sustain
Chloe Sun, Kindergarten
Medium: Markers and crayons

Statement: I drew this because I want to show people cutting down trees to build things. But I want to remind everyone that we need to plant more trees so birds can have new homes, and we can have fresh air to breath!

Be Kind to Our Earth: The Path to Regeneration
Julia Hu, Grade 3
Medium: Markers & crayons

Statement: This artwork illustrates a stark contrast between destruction and renewal, urging us to repair and regenerate our planet. On the left, pollution, deforestation, and human suffering depict the consequences of environmental neglect. On the right, clean energy, greenery, and joyful communities embody hope and healing. A DNA strand weaves through the center, symbolizing our responsibility to nurture life. The message “Be Kind to Earth” reminds us that small acts of kindness toward nature and each other can restore balance. Through vibrant colors and striking imagery, this piece envisions a future where care and innovation create a thriving, sustainable world.

Emoji Factory
Kevin Li, Grade 2
Medium: Acrylic paint

Statement: My painting is about a big Emoji factory! The machines make all kinds of Emoji—happy, silly, and even grumpy ones. When old Emoji get tired, they go back into the machine to be made new again. I used lots of colors to show how fun and busy the factory is. There are pipes, buttons, and robot arms working hard. I like thinking about where Emoji come from, so I made my own Emoji world!

The Boy and the Bicycle
Nathan Wang, Grade 2
Medium: Markers

Statement: The picture shows that the boy fell of his bike. The boy was riding his bike while holding his pet duck, and they both fell after running over a rock. They got hurt after. Then the boy fixed the bike and put a bandaid on.

Make the World Back to Life
William Lin, Grade 3
Medium: Mixed media

Statement: In the past, people destroyed forests, built factories and polluted the environment for their own benefit. Makes the earth seem lifeless. We should protect the earth while using the earth’s resources. To regenerate the earth’s resources. We can plant more trees and make good use of the land. This will allow the earth to be repaired and brought back to life.

The Power of Warmth
Yujing Chen, Grade 4
Medium: Watercolor

Statement: The girl sits in a dark room where the lights have lost their energy. She transforms her own warmth into a flowing river, filling the room with brightness. In a reparative act, she illuminates herself and allows warmth to spread.

The Power of Warmth
Weiya Zhou, Grade 7
Medium: Acrylic

Statement: Everyone has different sides to themselves. The way we present ourselves in daily life may differ from how we are when alone. Learning to accept our imperfections and embrace our multifaceted nature is the key to a more positive approach to life.

Restoration and Rebirth
Queenie Li, Grade 5
Medium: Markers, pastels, and pen

Statement: The theme of this work is “restoration and rebirth.” Due to human pollution and destruction, our natural environment has been seriously damaged. The discharge of all kinds of waste gas and sewage and the endless falling of trees have scarred the earth where we live. Through drawing, I want to make people more aware of environmental pollution and make efforts to protect our environment. With everyone’s efforts, our environment is getting better and better. The earth we live on has become vibrant again.

Repair and Regeneration
Li Chen Xi, Grade 5
Medium: Drawing paper & marker

Statement: In this artwork, jellyfish with vivid colors and sprawling tree branches intermingle with urban scenes. It symbolizes the power of nature's restoration. Amidst the city, they signify the process of repair and regeneration, hinting at a harmonious future where nature and urban life coexist.

Repair Time
Yuehan Hua, Grade 6
Medium: Drawing paper & marker

Statement: No matter how harsh the reality is, you’re the only light.

Wings of Harmony
Peng Yuexin, Grade not specified
Medium: Drawing paper & marker

Statement: This imaginative artwork by a sixth-grade student masterfully balances warm and cool colors to celebrate nature’s wonders. The left bursts with fiery orange energy, featuring a bold eagle soaring through swirling patterns of leaves and hidden creatures. The right shimmers in cool blues, showcasing a majestic peacock with rainbow-hued feathers unfolding like a living kaleidoscope. Between them flows a sparkling river where jumping fish create ripples that magically connect both worlds. Filled with playful details like camouflaged butterflies and curious forest animals peeking through foliage, the painting radiates youthful creativity while symbolizing nature’s beautiful balance through its clever color contrast and harmonious composition.

A Journey of Healing
Alexander Xiong, Grade Kindergarten
Medium: Not specified

Statement: My picture shows a kid who was very sick and almost died, but the doctors and nurses worked together to save him. After getting better, he goes back to playing and having fun with his friends. I drew this picture because my mom is a nurse and helps people heal. I wanted to show that even when things seem bad, with love, care, and teamwork, people can get better. My drawing is about fixing what’s broken and bringing life and joy back again.

Hope Built on Ruins
Jason Yang, Grade 1
Medium: Paint and colored pencils

Statement: This painting illustrates a scene of active construction and rebuilding, capturing the spirit of a reparative and regenerative process. It symbolizes the collective effort of a community to restore and improve its environment through labor, cooperation, and resourcefulness. From the depiction of workers carrying bricks to machinery in motion and a tree standing tall, the image highlights a balance between human development and environmental awareness. The presence of natural materials like logs and the integration of greenery suggest a regenerative approach that not only repairs the past but also builds a sustainable future.

Mangroove Forest
Alberta Zhang, Grade 5
Medium: Markers and oil pastels

Statement: My artwork depicts a mangrove forest, hills, and a river, illustrating the theme that communities can rebuild and create something better than before. Using markers and oil pastels on two canvases, taped together to show regeneration. I aimed to show how broken things can be repaired. The mangrove forest, once barren, was restored by planting trees, which attracted new life. This symbolizes that if nature can heal, people can heal too.

Mangroove Forest
Colter Burgette, Grade 1
Medium: Photography

Statement: “Ansel said it looks like the mom has to flee. Ansel likes the book because she’s named after Ansel Adams, and Ansel Adams took the pictures. Also, I like the pictures because Ansel likes the pictures. I would have not known about this if Ansel Adams didn’t take the picture. I learned that lots of people had to flee from their village to survive. The photos help me feel better.” - Colter Burgette, 6 years-old, who took this picture of his 8 year-old sister, Ansel Burgette.

Tree in the Midst of Pollution
Jayden Sun Zhang, Grade 5
Medium: Textured paper, markers

Statement: The tree represents how growth and hope are still possible, even when we’re facing a dire situation. Despite the continuous harm we cause to the environment through littering, pollution, and the use of harmful substances, I believe it’s not too late to make a change. If we work together to reduce pollution and protect nature, we can begin to heal the planet and create a cleaner, healthier world for future generations.

Pencils of Nature: Coloring the World with Recycled Wood
Gabriel Sun, Grade 3
Medium: Acrylic

Statement: This is my painting, and I want to express that if we use recycled wood to make pencils, we can create a colorful world. The trees that look like pencils are made from reused wood, turning them into drawing tools. With these eco-friendly pencils, we can draw flying birds, colorful flowers, and magical trees, protecting nature while making our world more beautiful!

The Earth is Not a Dumpster
Aleksi Ollikainen, Grade 5
Medium: Acrylic paint on canvas

Statement: If you go deep inside of earth, or in a city, you may encounter a plastic straw or two. Maybe even some plastic bottles. In my painting, there are citizens' arms extracting plastic from the beautiful planet. Please use less plastic and remember to reuse or recycle more.

Hopefully someday the plastic straws and bottles or any other plastic products will not be anywhere on our peaceful planet. This is like a battle between peace and nature against plastic, littering, and pollution.

Upper Grade Entries

Ivy Taylor, Grade 12
Medium: Oil painting

Statement: The piece I have submitted is the Journey of the Rainbow Serpent across the night sky and how its forces can transform that which is around us. The Rainbow Serpent’s movements are bold, but their effects can be subtle yet profound. Waves of transformative energy wash across creation as the Rainbow Serpent slithers across the sky, transforming everything from the great night sky to the movements of the Quokka. As the Rainbow Serpent passes by in its journey to renew the sky, it brings rain to the desert, and without the Rainbow Serpent crossing, it is believed the land would dry up and wither away. Rain is a time of joy as it begins a new cycle and washes away the old. Just like a snake shedding its skin, so too does the rain. What was old and burdensome is washed away and what remains is pure and joyful.

Cynthia Mai, Grade 11
Medium: Acrylic paint, foam pieces, ceramics on canvas

Statement: I used orchids and moths as symbols of hope for a light in dark times. I depicted my journey from despair to renewed hope through my skinless hands that represent past hurt as well as the potential for healing. Reaching out to the orchids and moths embody my desire to adapt to new surroundings, and to fit into societal norms. Therefore, as long as there is hope and a goal in the heart, even a wounded soul can heal again.

Stop Eating Wings
Emily Weng, Grade 6
Medium: Acrylic paint

Statement: My painting is about a stop sign with stop and wing on it. I created a stop sign with growth and helpfulness to help everyone realize how unhealthy wings are. My artwork is used with acrylic paint. I used slow and steady wins the race to carefully make the edges in my artork even and stright. My artwork shows connections to the competion theme becuase my artwork shows growth and tells the audience that eating less wings can improve healthy lifestyles.

Color of Pollution
Jessica Shihyu Chao, Middle School
Medium: Oil pastel, color pencil acrylic

Statement: In this artwork, I created a fish that stuck in a bubble. Inside the bubble, it's full of color, in the other hand, it's a black and white world outside the bubble. Color means hope, imagination, and the clean air, trees, flowers and ocean. The natural things on our Earth. The black, respond the place that has been destroyed by human. Like building factories and having too much pollutions.

The Light
Tian (Daniel) Liang, Grade 8
Medium: Paper

Statement: This piece is called The Light. It depicts a man climbing out of a dead body, symbolizing rebirth and regeneration. The background is black, with strips of light shining down on the man as he ascends back into the world. Flowers next to the dead body's feet represent the idea that even in darkness and despair, light and prosperity can always be found. The dove flying into the light serves as a symbol of hope, guiding those who are lost back into the world.

Contemplation
Grace Wang, Grade 8
Medium: Watercolor

Statement: When we view the world through art, we view the past (starvation, suffering, war, etc.) but also reflect on our present. The future, however, is entirely up to us and where we decide to go. I have faith that hearts will unite to repair broken bridges and our scars, and blessings will pave the way to a brighter future.

The inside-Decay and Rebirth
Lisa Yuzhu Wang, Grade 12
Medium: Plastic insects, spray paint, oil paint

Statement: This artwork symbolizes the constant process of transformation and renewal necessary for personal evolution. The back of the person hugging themselves conveys the courage to face wounds and work tirelessly to repair the body and spirit. It emphasizes the resilience required to grow and improve one's state. The golden insect represents the aggression of nature and change, reminding people that transformation is accompanied by pain but it is part of self-evolution.

Rise and Bloom
Mirabelle Kwok, Grade 7
Medium: Ink on paper

Statement: Phoenixes are mythical creatures that rise from their ashes, symbolizing renewal and healing. I believe we can learn from them because it's never too late to learn and grow. One day, I hope there won't be barriers between people, and we can all work together and enjoy life. Like a phoenix and blooming flowers, we can heal, rebuild, and thrive together to create a better world.

Colorful Escapes
Olivia Weng, Grade 8
Medium: Acrylic marker and paint

Statement: My artwork shows a cat in jail, playing Block Blast. Block Blast is a moblie game like tetris, where players drag and drop colorful blocks to create lines. I used acrlic paint to show the bright colors of the blocks, highlighting how engaging the game can be. Students often feel stressed from tests, home work, and classwork. Playing Block Blast helps relieve that stress and is a fun way to pass time. However the game can be so addictive that players may forget their responsibiities and waste time.

Hope in the Cracks
Yuewen Li, Grade 11
Medium: Watercolor

Statement: Through my work "Hope in the Cracks," I aim to showcase how countries shattered by war are rebuilt in times of peace. In the painting, the ruins of war are gradually replaced by new communities, symbolizing hope and revival, thereby awakening people's yearning for the good and inspiring them to pursue a harmonious and peaceful future.

The Other Side
Bailey Haag, High School
Medium: Paper with paper quilling

Statement: This piece of artwork was inspired by my own experienced throughout life. The top of this art is colorful flowers, while the bottom is the exact same image although in black and white. The gray and white part symbolizes the flowers dying and hurting below the surface, which I believe translates to the real world. The piece shows that no matter how beautiful or perfect someone or something is, there is more going on beneath the surface that others do not know about. I believe we are in an environmental crisis with the people around us, because people only care about themselves and are too harsh to people around them. I believe socially as a whole people need to treat each other regardless of looks.

Heavy with Mood
Ezekiel Evans, High School
Medium: Acrylic paint

Statement: The inspiration for this piece came to me whilst I was listening to a song, that often happens when it comes to my art. I hear profound lyrics and I get the urge to create a tangible image for them.

The Power of Light
Makaylin Sizemore, Grade 12
Medium: Surrealism (medium not specified)

Statement: Something that inspired me to make this art piece is that I wanted to try to represent how some people's minds may feel when they are at their lowest. The elements of my work that connects with the theme is textures. Some surrealist techniques I used was juxtaposition. It's meant to represent how even when surrounded by darkness there is always light. Like how even if I may be in a dark place I always have god and his angel watching over me protecting me and always giving me faith to get out of the darkness.

Sailors Valentine
Kaitlin Kingsley, Grade 12
Medium: Marker on paper

Statement: I made this as a memorial to my late grandmother who is my namesake, Katherine Kingsley. She wore this pendent everyday I ever saw her, including in hospice on comfort care. I challenged myself with pointillism to bring this simple necklace to life.

Passion Fusion
Saara Khan, Grade 12
Medium: Pens and colored pencils

Statement: From a young age I've had a deep passion for both athletics and the arts- more specifially basketball and creative writing. I was always told I had to choose one, because they were just too different for me to pursue both. But I didn't listen. I continued playing basketball and also pursued my passion for writing in my free time. Which is why I've named this artwork "Passion Fusion". You don't have to have just one passion or interest. Why not explore them all?

Water Brings Life
Hanne Graham Lawver, Grade 12
Medium: Clay, Glaze, Pottery

Statement: Water patterns caputred in clay , glazed with the noise of the waters of the puget sound in washington state ready to renew for spring. Purpose holder of the spring renew Tulips.

He Who is Without Sin
Kaylee Baldwin, Grade 12
Medium: Digital

Statement: I draw how I feel and I feel how I draw.

Yellowstone Eruption
Michael Williams, High School
Medium: Not specified

Statement: The piece of artwork that I have attatched in the third of three drawings I made of a supervolcanic eruption at Yellowstone National Park. I made it mainly as an emotional release a few years ago.

Regenerative Flames
Celine Chen, Grade 8
Medium: Acrylic

Statement: This painting depicts a woman undergoing a regenerative transformation in flames. Fire has the power to consume everything, yet it can also burn away all negativity. Regeneration is about embracing change, feeling warmth, and welcoming new beginnings.

Transformation of the Soul
Dereck Chen, Grade 10
Medium: Alcohol markers

Statement: The painting features a backlighting effect, portraying the struggle between darkness and hope. Blue flowers surround the scene, resembling a gentle force of restoration. A butterfly flutters its wings, signifying the transformation of life. Restoration is not about forgetting the past, but about turning it into nourishment for growth, paving the way for a better future.

Facing the True Self
Rachel Zhou, Grade 12
Medium: Oil painting & Collage

Statement: This artwork is a reassembly of my own face. I tend to avoid and hide the parts of myself that lack confidence, but I need to face them and allow the fractured pieces to undergo a regenerative transformation. I am no longer who I was in the past—I am a more confident version of myself.

The Protector
Phoebe Lau, Grade 8
Medium: Sketch, not specified

Statement: This painting tells the story of a little girl and her shadow companion. She was once afraid of her shadow, but over time, she realized that it was her protector, silently watching over her. As she learned to accept her shadow, she also learned to accept herself.

Reflections of Renewal
Tiffany Ling, Grade 10
Medium: Acrylic

Statement: The girl sits on the shattered mirror, with reflections of the past gazing at her. Restoration is not about piecing things back to their original form but about reshaping oneself into a stronger version with the fragments. Rebirth is about finding new light within the fractures. She is no longer afraid, for she is rebuilding a future that truly belongs to her.

Light Through the Chains
Xingyu Liu, Grade 12
Medium: Oil painting

Statement: Chaos and rebirth intertwine, with a fractured face reflecting inner struggles. Chains bind the past, while the glow of renewal emerges from the swirling colors. Restoration is not about avoidance but confronting the turmoil and finding growth within the cracks. Rebirth happens when we dare to release fear, let the light of the soul pierce through the darkness, and reshape our true selves.

Reaching for the Light
Sijia Cao, Grade 11
Medium: Charcoal and Pastels

Statement: She reaches out, her fingertips touching the edge of light as if trying to grasp hope. Darkness once surrounded her, but now she feels warmth slipping through her fingers, allowing the light to take on a reparative role, mending the cracks and illuminating her heart. Regenerative strength is found in the depths, empowering her to move forward with courage.

Symbiosis
Melody Wu, Grade 9
Medium: Acrylic

Statement: A hand emerges from the soil, with golden branches and leaves blooming at its fingertips— life is rejuvenated through growth. White and black represent the past and the future, embracing each other in a reparative process. Light flows through the gaps between the fingers; though the process of regeneration is slow, it is full of vitality.

Fantasy City
Zenan Wang, Grade 10
Medium: Watercolor & Pen

Statement: A whale leaps above the city, where the water’s surface merges with the streets, blurring the line between reality and fantasy. A reparative act is about rekindling the connection between humans and nature. A regenerative future makes harmony possible, and coexistence is the most beautiful path forward.

Light Through the Cracks
Haolin Ye, Grade 10
Medium: Acrylic

Statement: The entire artwork utilizes complementary colors- blue and orange. Blue represents coldness, while orange symbolizes warmth. Many cold hands slowly peel away the outer shell of the face, revealing a burning, passionate expression beneath. It is warmth overcoming the cold, allowing the true self to bloom once again through the cracks.

The Call of Freedom
Duohui Li, Grade 8
Medium: Watercolor

Statement: This painting flows with vibrant colors, creating a dreamy and poetic atmosphere. The two birds nestled together, like close friends, contrast sharply with the white bird soaring freely, symbolizing the longing for freedom. It captures the delicate balance between attachment and independence, the past and the future. The interplay of night and stars represents the process of healing and rebirth, reminding us that whether in friendship or family, farewell is not the end but the beginning of a new journey. Only by embracing life can we discover new hope and strength in the face of change.

The Regenerative Angel
Xinyan Lin, Grade 8
Medium: Acrylic

Statement: In this painting, the blooming flowers intertwine with the curled-up angel, as if telling a story of reparative transformation and regeneration. Flowers symbolize life— they wither over time, yet they continuously renew themselves. The angel embracing the petals seems to be seeking warmth, as if she has endured fragmentation and pain. At this moment, surrounded by flowers, she has once again found warmth.

Circle of Life
Deng Huizhi, Grade 9
Medium: Drawing Paper & Marker

Statement: This artwork depicts nature's harmony with birds through delicate strokes and vivid colors. A wounded bird yearns to fly, symbolizing life's resilience and nature's healing. It raises awareness of ecological balance, emphasizing human duty in nature's restoration.

Restoration and Regeneration
Li Jiayi, Grade 7
Medium: Markers & pen

Statement: This painting conveys that while humans are advancing technologically, they are also working hard to restore and protect the natural environment, bringing the Earth back to life. The vibrant nature, in turn, uses its own power to dissolve the fragments of civilization, allowing the world to coexist harmoniously in cycles and reincarnation.

The left side of the painting features a modern city as its backdrop,symbolizing the rapid development of technology. The right side of the painting focuses on nature, showcasing its beauty and vitality. Lush trees, free-swimming marine life, and the gradual dissolution of modern civilization's remnants by the power of nature are depicted, leading to a return to unity.

Reignited Horizons: Where History Fuels Tomorrow
Yifan Wu, Grade 6
Medium: Drawing paper & markers

Statement: This surreal painting merges a colossal crocodile with futuristic architecture and a speeding train. Primal textures contrast sharply with glass urban structures, while a gradient blue-green backdrop merges ecological resilience with technological momentum. The crocodile’s gaze and urban dynamism collide, redefining regeneration as symbiotic evolution of old and new. Vibrant hues of yellow and orange amplify the tension between organic history and engineered futures.

Harmonious Coexistence: A Colorful Wind
Yihan Liu, Grade 6
Medium: Drawing paper & markers

Statement: Our planet is a remarkable tapestry of diverse life. Humans, animals, and plants all share this Earth. However, conflicts often disrupt this harmony. To achieve harmonious coexistence, we need to respect nature. Protect wildlife habitats, reduce pollution, and promote sustainable living. Only in this way can we keep our world colorful and full of life.

Molting Seas
Yiguo Fan, Grade 8
Medium: Drawing paper & markers

Statement: This work embodies oceanic regeneration through visceral metamorphosis. Human figures, entangled in luminous jellyfish and corroded shipwrecks, dissolve into a vertical vortex of reborn ecosystems—plastic debris morphing into bioluminescent coral, veins fusing with seagrass. Acrylic translucence and fractured collage textures mirror cellular rebirth, while neon mutations glide through purified tides. Struggling bodies, half-transparent and threaded with algal DNA.

Through the Cracks of Time
Zhang Xinwei, Grade 6
Medium: Watercolor & marker painting

Statement: The painting presents an era full of turbulence, which is both a reflection on the past and an exploration of the future. It expresses how humanity seeks order and rebuilds itself in the midst of impermanence and chaos, moving towards a new era.

City Plant
Yuzi Zhang, Grade 8
Medium: Paper & markers

Statement: In the picture, I combine living plants with broken buildings.It brought this city back to life.It's a sign of new life. Also Compared with the nearby buildings, a series of buildings that are visually back open up the distance in the picture and make the picture look more complete.These buildings are also combined with plants to make the city look more harmonious. That's my overall picture.

Resurrected from the Dead
Xinyan Hu, Grade 9
Medium: Paper & markers

Statement: The breath of death in the sun is not strong, but there is a sense of beauty. The plants are more and more lush on the ruins, gradually forming a new world.

The Duality of Time
Xinle Li, Grade 7
Medium: Marker pen

Statement: The deity commands crimson branches of red spider lilies to repair decaying structures, their touch sparking molecular rebirth in fractured walls. Yet one ancient building, eroded by eras of unrecorded time, fades from collective memory. Its absence lingers unnoticed—a void persisting beyond the deity’s omniscient perception, where neither roots nor light reclaim its silhouette from the encroaching dark.

The Fish Traveling Through Time
Katherine, Grade 7
Medium: Toner and Markers

Statement: "The fish Traveling Through Time" is a metaphor for freedom and exploration. The fish swimming between the city and the ocean symbolize the integration of nature and modernity. I capture their fluidity with color and light, hoping to evoke imagination of the unknown and a sense of wonder in the intersection of time and space. This work is both a tribute to nature and a vision for a better future.

Realm of Rebirth: Layered Visions of Civilization
Zhang Shuyao, Grade 6
Medium: Paper, pencil, markers, and oil-based colored pencils

Statement: At the convergence of faded vermilion walls and steel arc bridges, panda observes civilization's transformation through dual perspectives. Mottled silhouettes of imperial palaces and luminous ripples of glass curtain walls coalesce into temporal folds. Faded pigments of ancient architectural murals intertwine with the silvery gleam of high-speed rail tracks, regenerating within the chromatic spectrum.

Harmony Reborn
Zhuang Yuen Yuen, Grade 6
Medium: Drawing paper & marker

Statement: This vibrant painting depicts a girl seated on a vintage car, encircled by blooming flowers and peaceful animals, with a lush forest in the distance. Symbolizing repair and regeneration, the work merges human innovation with nature’s resilience. Amid environmental crises and social fractures, the scene envisions art as a bridge to healing—where fractured relationships, ecological wounds, and inner turmoil begin to mend. Through harmonious coexistence, it invites reflection: Can creativity rekindle growth in ourselves, communities, and the planet? The piece celebrates art’s power to transform decay into hope, urging collective renewal.

Clouds Rise and Fall
Shiwan Liu, Grade unspecified
Medium: Drawing paper & marker

Statement: My topic is about repair and regeneration。I was drawing about a shabby and corrupt bridge，I use the rags of the bridge to set off the beauty of peach blossoms.And the whale next to it either chose to turn it into a high-tech.This bridge will eventually be transformed and eventually become more advanced and modern.

Sunflower Under Repair
Wang Weixin, Grade 8
Medium: Professional drawing paper, not specified

Statement: lnspired by the competition theme of restoration and regeneration, the shattered ashen sunflowers and the bridge overgrown with weeds in the painting yearn for the day they will be revitalizd. Meanwhile,the golden sunflowers symbolizing life and hope radiate their glow upon the regenerated skyscrapers rising from the broken ruins.

Rain
Hans Boekweg, Grade 12
Medium: Photography

Statement: No statement provided.

Innocence
Tanner Davison, Grade 12
Medium: Photography

Statement: Having a younger brother with a large age gap between us has allowed me to enjoy and appreciate his journey of independence, adventure, and genuine innocence in all that life offers. This photo captures the vast opportunities he will encounter throughout his life and the unlimited possibilities that lie ahead.

Perspective
Aliana Guzman, Grade 12
Medium: Digital Art

Statement: Throughout life, we meet many different people with many different backgrounds. This piece ("Perspective") is about just that, gaining perspective. It's important that we learn to understand and gain perspective with every situation or person we cross paths with. Through this, everything can come together as one as we continue to observe and better our view on life.

Whisper of a Bloom
Alyssa Meade, Grade 11
Medium: Pencil

Statement: "Whisper of a Bloom" is about the moment when new life first sees the world. It's both a butterflies and a flowers first time blooming; two beginnings in with one another. In this piece, I wanted to show the resolve, delicacy, and beauty that reside in those very first steps forward.

Love
Katherine Surniak, Grade 11
Medium: Digital

Statement: With jealousy, fear, and disgust taking up a majority of bodily functions. Her life is fueled, and healed through joy and love. Representing a different way of regeneration.

Blooming Eye
Xutong (Selina) Hu, Grade 11
Medium: Colored pencils and charcoal

Statement: We live in an era of overwhelming information, where our minds constantly absorb news from the outside world—both inspiring and deeply painful. The blue forms in the background represent dendrites of neurons, symbolizing how quickly we grasp and internalize what surrounds us. Despite the emotional weight this carries, the central blooming form reveals our inherent ability to heal. This piece reflects the reparative and regenerative nature of the human spirit: even when confronted by suffering and chaos, we hold the power to transform pain into growth. Art, like the mind, becomes a space where restoration and resilience can blossom.

Resilience in Bloom
Kimberly Medina, Grade 12
Medium: Digital Photography

Statement: Juxtaposed a burning street scene with blooming flowers to show LA's tension between chaos and care.

Rain in the Dancing
Malinda Zhu, Grade 8
Medium: Oil painting

Statement: Much like reparative practices, art can be used to address the root causes of conflict and injustice to focus on healing, rather than only punishing offenders. My painting shows a world full of anger, hate, and fire. The dancer's gracefulness and blue dress symbolize peace, the water to extinguish the
fire. “Rain in the Dancing” is therefore a play on the metaphorical phrase dancing in the rain, embracing difficult situations and finding joy in them. By healing ourselves, we can then help others around us and empower indivudals to make the world a better place.

2025 Student Art Competition Entries
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Lower Grade Entries

Upper Grade Entries

2025 Student Art Competition Entries
Judging Page