Four high school students earn scholarships during Juried High School Art Exhibition.
Posted on February 17, 2025
The 3rd Bi-Annual Juried High School Art Exhibition welcomed a selection of talented young female artists to campus on Feb. 15 in celebration of their incredible work.
This special exhibition allows high school girls from across the country the opportunity to not only professionally show their work, but also learn more about and possibly earn a partial scholarship to Sweet Briar College.
“I conceived of this exhibition in 2019, recognizing that there are very few opportunities for young artists to exhibit their work in a professional setting. This exhibition helps to fill that void, and gives a venue for aspiring young artists to show off their hard work,” said Shawn O’Connor, assistant professor of studio arts and lead coordinator of this event.
This year’s call for submissions yielded nearly 100 submissions from 55 artists from across the country. Students are eligible to apply with up to two artworks in any form and/or mediums of visual art. The submitted pieces ranged from sculptures and paintings to photographs and woodworking. The collection of work was narrowed down by the jurors to a pool of 26 finalists, who were invited to campus for a celebratory dinner, dessert reception, and presentation of awards. Their work is also on display in the Benedict Hall Gallery for faculty, staff, students, and visitors to enjoy during the exhibition period.
“We looked for work that showed intention and control of material. Beyond technical skill, we also looked for a sense of originality, and that the artist was inserting their unique voice into the work,” O’Connor noted in his remarks during the presentation of awards.
With such a high caliber selection of pieces to choose from, the decision for each group of judges was difficult, weighing technique, point of view, and originality. The jurors, composed of Sweet Briar art faculty members, selected the pieces for the Juror’s Choice and Best in Show categories, while students and the College’s president, Mary Pope M. Hutson ’83, selected the other two winners, respectively.
The Juried High School Art Exhibition is also supported by the Office of Admissions and the Friends of Art, a group of alumnae donors that supports gallery exhibitions, arts collection, and many of the visual arts initiatives on campus.
“Every day that you are at Sweet Briar, your eyes will be open to art in many forms, which will inspire you in your own creations,” President Hutson said during her remarks before announcing the winner in the Presidential Pick category.
This year’s winners include: Student with artwork Best in Show: Veil by Savannah B.
  Painting of a truck Juror’s Choice: Objects in the Mirror by Maya S. Painting Presidential Pick: Starlist Shadows of Warmth by Caroline Fox
  Painting Student Choice: Eternal Show by Brooke Blevins
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