Student Surrealist Art Exhibit artwork, Relapse And Rebirth by Sav Mangin

Student Surrealist Art Exhibit Online: 2022 Hillsborough County

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March 14, 2022 – Indefinitely

the metamorphic moment

Initiated in 1985, this annual juried art exhibition presents work by Pinellas middle and high school students whom are invited to explore ideas and visions similar to those explored by Salvador Dalí and the surrealists. This year, the theme is “The Metamorphic Moment,” a theme that encourages students to explore the process and meaning of transformation through time, myth and literature.

Metamorphosis is “a change of the form or nature of a thing or person into a completely different one, by natural or supernatural means.” With insects or amphibians, metamorphosis is “the process of transformation from an immature form to an adult form in two or more distinct stages.” Metamorphosis relates to the age-old experience of looking at clouds and recognizing familiar images, like seeing a face transition into a bird. The concept is also woven into our culture. In Greek mythology, metamorphosis explains Zeus’ transformation into a swan to visit Leda, or Daphne turning into a laurel tree to escape Apollo’s advances. In modern culture, Kafka’s short story, “The Metamorphosis,” focuses on Gregor Samsa’s inexplicable transformation into a cockroach. In X-Men, Mystique is a shapeshifter who can morph into another shape or state at will. Western culture is bound by both the delight and terror of metamorphosis. In some situations, it is seen as a punishment, while in other contexts, it is seen as a superpower.

In the visual arts, metamorphosis is often the domain of the surrealists. From René Magritte to Max Ernst, the representation of metamorphosis is a central subject. One of Salvador Dalí’s most celebrated skills was his ability to see the world differently, recognize how to see something transform into something completely different by simply by refocusing one’s view, then use his refined techniques to capture that vision for others to see.

“The Metamorphic Moment” theme invites students to reflect on the idea of metamorphosis and create their own visual interpretation of “the metamorphic moment.” All 2D media types are welcomed and encouraged as submissions.

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middle school

Alphabetical order by school
(Click images to enlarge)


Drawing of half woman half octopus head

Isabella Correa
Tentacles of Emotion

Pastel
Bell Creek Academy
Art Teacher: Ryan McNally
Grade 7

“We all experience “bad days,” and lash out at people around us. I’ve done this numerous times, and I’m not proud of it. These negative emotions can turn into monsters, with tentacles that can swing and slash at people. That’s why we have to learn how to control this, how to change and grow into a better version of ourselves. I aspire to do the same.”


Mice on the floor

Robert Erickson
Sundae Surrealism

Pencil, colored pencil
Benito Middle School
Art Teacher: Cheyanne Causby
Grade 8

I enjoy drawing certain real-world items or landscapes in a cartoonish style, but during the process, I decided to give life to these characters. The scoops of ice cream and cherries were given an aspect that made them feel like they had emotions; happy-go-lucky, cautious, joyous. Making my artworks appeal animated allows me to express myself and my talent in rubber-hose cartoons, and to add variety, where not every part of the drawing is the same, whether realistic or not. It makes the drawing feel full of expression, as if the characters were real, with feelings and colorful emotions.


Drawing of two woman with horns surrounded by eyes and halo's

Edgar Lacuetta
Reincarnation

Watercolor, colored pencil
Benito Middle School
Art Teacher: Cheyanne Causby
Grade 7

This surrealism art piece was based off life, death, and reincarnation. In this scene there are 2 porcelain woman that are surrounded by angels, that morph into each other, with animal-like horns forming on one of them. Using watercolor and light-colored pencils shows fluidity and the feeling of melting or transformation. The idea of this was inspired by questions like; What happens when we die? Is reincarnation real? What were we in our past life? This piece expresses how I feel about those thoughts.


A fish in the sky, and a pear in the water

Isabella Mikovic
“Pear”ish Fall

Colored pencil, black pen
Benito Middle School
Art Teacher: Cheyanne Causby
Grade 7

This artwork was surrounded by the metaphor of change and experience. The fish jumping out of the water into the air supplies the idea of being in unknown and new environments and the pear which comes out of the blue represents new memories, thoughts, and how a moment in the past may have felt. The pear forming on the bottom half of the fish represents how an experience can shape you and your respect towards a concept that you are left with. The Crayola pencils I used were to show vibrant colors that catch the eye like a new practice that may peak your interest.


A yellow, liquid-like lamp

Ashley Malanof Obregon
Questioning Her Brilliance

Watercolor
Buchanan Middle School
Art Teacher: Carla Wilkins
Grade 7

I was inspired by my frustrated and negative thoughts, “questioning her brilliance”.  Honestly, I wanted my painting to have a meaning that can connect with other people’s mentality and insecurities.  Even with the confusion of figuring out who you really are, there’s still something bright that defines you.  And hopefully with passion.


Three faces expressing different emotions

Michael Padilla Taylor
Mindical

Watercolor, colored pencils, pen
Buchanan Middle School
Art Teacher: Carla Wilkins
Grade 8

Society inspired me to create my surreal artwork Mindical. I want the viewer to understand that when making decisions, good and bad thoughts appear from an emotional place. My conscience influenced my drawing. I connect to it by various opinions around me. Emotion drove the process in my drawing, and I learned that with growth comes responsibility, but also a lot of pressure. In conclusion, our minds work in magical ways, hence Mindical.


A blonde woman dressed in a blue dress with ocean beneath her

Adrianna Valentino
The Ocean Waves and the Beautiful Lady

Watercolor, white pen
Buchanan Middle School
Art Teacher: Carla Wilkins
Grade 7

“As the beautiful woman steps into the ocean, feeling the water brush against her legs, you can see her sparkling blue dress become a part of the water…” The thought behind this project was my fascination with water. I wanted to do water because of the way it could metamorphose into anything, like a dress. As a story, it could have many meanings.


Frogs and books on a lake

Annika Karr
Dapper Frog

Watercolor, pen and colored pencil
Coleman Middle School
Art Teacher: Audrey Tedder
Grade 8

If you just keep trying to get to the top, knowledge and books can help you be what you want to be. Frogs go through metamorphosis. If the tadpoles grow up with books and literature, perhaps they can turn into a big fancy bullfrog. Any person who grows up with the best resources can be on top and do amazing things.


Drawing of clock in front of pink diamond shape

Dina Cerrano
Inching through Time

Colored pencil, white & black pens
Farnell Middle School
Art Teacher: Melanie Schlicter
Grade 8

My work is called Inching through Time. It features a clock and a portal, symbolizing that metamorphosis takes time. Time is like another world – confusing, but very important and mysterious. It looks like something from a dream, and we never quite understand our dreams.


Two woman laying down, one at the bottom of the vase and the other on top

Julliana Marie Garcia
Crumbled Flowers of Addiction
Ink & watercolor paint
Farnell Middle School
Art Teacher: Melanie Schlicter
Grade 7


Five different portraits of the same woman on a black canvas

Chloe Khang
Drowning to Undiscovered Beauty

Colored pencil, paint, paint marker
Farnell Middle School
Art Teacher: Melanie Schlicter
Grade 7

In this artwork, I mainly used juxtaposition, dreamlike settings and symbolism. Metamorphosis to me is a complete change overtime, persuading me to incorporate my emotions. This work is inspired by my uncle to whom I dedicate much more. I created a sense of drowning in an undiscovered place that then evolves into beauty. This taught me that when misfortune strikes, grieving is coping and expressing is acceptance.


Student Surrealist Art Exhibit, Euphoric Evolution  
By Riley McDaniel

Riley McDaniel
Euphoric Evolution

Watercolor, acrylic paint, Sharpie, white pen
Farnell Middle School
Art Teacher: Melanie Schlicter
Grade 8

My piece, Euphoric Evolution, was inspired by finding my true self. Sometimes, a metamorphosis can make you feel like you are floating through the air. It could also make you feel like you are opening a huge portal full of new ideas. The butterfly wings and swans in the clouds represent classic “metamorphosis.” It symbolizes how change could make you feel like you are flying, and you can do anything you put your mind to.


Surreal mushrooms in space with eyes on them

Bennett Trutter
Below the Surface

Acrylic paint, oil pastel, colored pencil
Farnell Middle School
Art Teacher: Melanie Schlicter
Grade 8

The mushrooms’ roots are NOT normal. As the roots expand, they slowly transition into snakes. The snakes squirm around in the soil even though they are connected to the roots of the mushrooms. The length of the snakes increases as the roots grow. I was inspired by my pet snake Pickles. I also have a love for mushroom drawings along with the actual vegetable. This is why I combined the two.


A red octopus

Caleb Cardona
Tentacles

Colored pencils, Sharpie, Stabilo markers, and watercolor markers
Franklin BPA Middle School
Art Teacher: Brooke Sherrill
Grade 8

Tentacles is an artwork I made from my imagination and perspective of the world. The various media used in the eye and tentacles represents the otherworldly aspect. The eye represents me adapting to my surroundings like the environment or conflict, shown as the torpedo. The clock that replaces the sun symbolizes my artistic inspiration, the artistic challenges I’ve faced, and the time it took to get to this point in my artistic journey. Overall, this image represents me and my artistic journey and how I got to be as an artist.


Portrait of a melting Dali

Harrison Taylor
Dalí in Dalí

Ink, colored pencil, graphite
Franklin BPA Middle School
Art Teacher: Brooke Sherrill
Grade 8

When given the opportunity to create a piece for a surrealist museum, specifically the Salvador Dali museum, I Immediately thought to do a portrait of Dali himself. A portrait of Dali in his own style was an effort to pay homage to a man who put surrealistic art on the map. The clocks in the background represent the amount of time his legacy has been moving and changing with us.


Drawing of landscape of town. Large monster figure in center. Mountains in the back with sky half blue half red.

Amanda Selgado
Mass Destruction
Mixed media with alcohol marker, oil pastel
Girls Prep Academy at Ferrell Middle Magnet School
Art Teacher: Katie Sparks
Grade 8

What inspired me to create Mass Destruction was some fruit lying around-I decided to create a fruit village that was slowly molding away due to orange rain. Then, I thought about a possible monster that comes in to wreck the village further. What makes my work surreal is the fact that there is a fruit village, with vegetable people-not to mention that fruit replace the trees, along with a monster coming out of nowhere. The surrealist techniques I explored were juxtaposition, transformation, and disproportion.


An 8-ball, Saturn, Earth orbiting with several naked humans below

Monica Meza
Rogue Fortune

Mixed media
Jennings Middle School
Art Teacher: Zuleyma Davila-Perez
Grade 7

I created Rogue Fortune with the inspiration of an illusion. The illusion of a future we don’t know. The woman in my artwork represents how people change when they obsess over the future and dream that one day their luck and fortune will change. Getting addicted to gambling, looking for answers in astrology, following their lucky numbers, and they don’t realize it when that obsession turns into craziness. This craziness is in all of us at many different levels. We all look for ways to wrap ourselves in this world full of illusions. Everyone waiting for “A Metamorphosis Moment” at the mercy of a rogue fortune.


A bench, a flying house, and an eyeball on the beach

Aidan Ambrose-Williams
Untitled

Mixed Media, including watercolor, colored pencil and Sharpie
Liberty Middle School
Art Teacher: Lesley Wheatley
Grade 8

I created an open, peaceful interpretation of randomness and the mystery of our solar system and planet. The shape of the sun reminded me of an eye. The people in dialogue on the bench represented the sereneness of that moment you view the sunset. For metamorphosis, I transformed shapes which were similar, such as the sun and the eye, the ocean and space. The ocean transformed into the solar system because there remains a lot of mystery in both, and the house walking around on tentacles represents our ability to transform our lives. Time is important for the transformation process – like a seed, it takes time for it to grow into a flower.


Butterflies in space

Amber Yuan
A New Abode

Watercolor, gouache, inking pen
Liberty Middle School
Art Teacher: Lesley Wheatley
Grade 8


A deer with a red item is flying through the woods

Lorelai Brown
Fight or Flight
Watercolor, colored pencil
Martinez Middle School
Art Teacher: Kassandra Cochran
Grade 8

With change comes the unknown and with the unknown comes fright. In many cases, forests suggest an unforgiving and dark reality where our worst nightmares are hidden; strangers’ eyes become weapons in disguise and you can feel how their lasers cut through you. When change occurs in our lives, sometimes it’s easy to feel lost and alone. We don’t know right from wrong, up from down, whether to fight or to take flight.


Same woman painted in two different realms

Maya Elwassef
Life and Death

Marker, pen
Martinez Middle School
Art Teacher: Kassandra Cochran
Grade 8

I drew inspiration from the theme “Metamorphic Moment.” Throughout our lives, we are constantly morphing and changing until we reach the end of the road, which is symbolized by the left, “dead” side of this piece. Before reaching the end, we undergo beautiful changes represented by the butterflies on the “alive” right half of the drawing. I’d like the viewers to know that we must embrace the beauty of morphing, changing and finishing our journey.


SSAE Exhibit, M Martinez Ramoos - Road leads to a house

EvaSofia Ramos
The Journey that Made Her Bloom

Watercolor, colored pencil, pen
Martinez Middle School
Art Teacher: Kassandra Cochran
Grade 8

This project inspired me to create a representation of my journey from Ohio to Florida. The roots growing out of the mouth symbolize how much I grew and bloomed once my voice was found. Learning that weird and different things can be beautiful too, I want the viewer to know that if you dig deeply enough, you’ll find your voice and that voice can do amazing things.


A naked woman getting dressed

Lanie Towe
The Skin of Society

Colored pencil, pencil, watercolor
Martinez Middle School
Art Teacher: Kassandra Cochran
Grade 8

This artwork is a commentary on society and social standards. The person depicted is colorful and uniquely their self. Because of society, they hide their self and step into a different skin; one that is colorless, void of uniqueness and life, manufactured by society. While making this artwork, I learned that some things aren’t perfect and never will be – in both life and the creation of art. What makes us beautiful is our color, asymmetry and uniqueness. Never forget that.


A cow on the bottom, and a sketch of a human who is thinking above

Heidi Wegzyn
A Cry for Longing

Pencil, watercolor, charcoal, colored pencil
Martinez Middle School
Art Teacher: Kassandra Cochran
Grade 8

For me, a momentous change is living with anxiety. It feels like I am up against the darkness in this empty world as expressed by the “invisible” girl. I’m a recluse who self-destructs, symbolized by the door, unintentionally blocking the love, hope and support available right on the other side. Hope is represented by the colorful, nurturing cow. I want to show a glimpse of what it’s like to suffer from anxiety in order to spread awareness of this disorder.


A colorful boot that is also a mushroom

Cali Benson
Mushroom Vibes

Colored pencil
Mulrennan Middle School
Art Teacher: Holly Gaw
Grade 8


A dragon flying out of a wolf\'s mouth

Lauren Lyon
Wolf Mountain

Colored pencil
Mulrennan Middle School
Art Teacher: Holly Gaw
Grade 8


A tulip with a castle inside

Meagan Wallace
Untitled

Colored pencil
Mulrennan Middle Schoo
Art Teacher: Holly Gaw
Grade 8


Flowers emerging from a record player

Chloe Wilson
The Blooming Sound of Nature

Colored pencil, pen, White Out
Mulrennan Middle School
Art Teacher: Holly Gaw
Grade 8


Three humans with sunflower heads

Zenell Grandison
The Field of Sunflowers

Colored pencil, marker , pencil
Orange Grove Middle Magnet School of the Arts
Art Teacher: Hilda Muinos
Grade 8

This artwork relates to me because I am changing just like the subject transforming into a sunflower. She is so different from other people, yet, nobody seems to notice the metamorphosis that’s occurring. I painted sunflowers because they symbolize honesty. I am trying to be honest about who I am becoming even though it is sometimes sad and scary.


Half a butterfly, half a brain

Abigail Johns
A Butterfly Wing and a Cracked Brain Wing with Mental State Words

Pencil, colored pencil, marker
Orange Grove Middle Magnet School of the Arts
Art Teacher: Hilda Muinos
Grade 8

The idea of metamorphosis made me think to combine a butterfly wing with a broken brain wing to show my mental struggles with ADHD, autism, depression and anxiety. The exhibit’s theme influenced me to express my mental health by sharing the transformation of a brain to a butterfly and to make the butterfly colorful while the brain is only shaded with pencil. The differences between the two expresses people’s mental health struggles.


A horse with a hat and butterfly wings

Eva John
The Center of the Circus

ibis Paint
Orange Grove Middle Magnet School of the Arts
Art Teacher: Hilda Muinos
Grade 8

I wanted to give my artwork a zany feeling. My inspiration came from Cyrick’s songs “Meow,” “Something,” and “Kitty City.” To make the piece trippy and dreamlike, I used juxtaposition, metamorphosis, and displacement. Using ibis Paint, I made parts of the lamb disfigure into a bug. I added contrast with the tree and swarm of butterflies which morphed into the lamb. It was fun creating this! I got out of my comfort zone and let loose when creating my “surreal” lamb.


A superhero in two different realms

Asher Sgro
Light Beam

Pencil, watercolor, pen, marker
Orange Grove Middle Magnet School of the Arts
Art Teacher: Hilda Muinos
Grade 7

I created this character, Light Beam. He is somewhat related to me. This character has a long, surreal backstory. In this piece, Light Beam is metamorphosing into his environment. His outfit is made of nano technology and as he transforms, is outfit and body dissolve into the landscape. This is sort of how I try to fit into my world. This piece is mixed media. Watercolor paint and markers helped me add definition to the building, clothing and background.


Wheels with faces are going through hills

Angeline J. Irizarry
Happiness isn’t What it Seems

Watercolor and colored pencil
Rampello Downtown Partnership K-8 Magnet School
Art Teacher: Elizabeth T. Van Allen
Grade 7

When making this artwork, I was thinking of ways to make it relate to some people. I thought about my friend who always hid their emotions from people and never really showed emotion other than happiness. Overtime, she started to reveal other emotions such as anger, sadness, worry, and more.
In this project, we have heads wearing masks. As the heads roll down the hill representing the events of life, slowly but surely each mask begins to break and reveal emotions. While making this project, I learned that not all people are happy all the time; they could be going through something we may not know.


A sketch of a surreal flower

Macee Tewmey
Néctar de Sangre

Colored pencil, pencil
Rampello Downtown Partnership K-8 Magnet School
Art Teacher: Elizabeth T. Van Allen
Grade 8

The metamorphic moment of my artwork is the different flowers coming from one stem. This shows that we all come from the same place, but are so different from each other. The finger drinking the drop of blood shows that we all depend on each other. The portal represents the new problems we face throughout life and, like a portal, show up any day at any time. I used symbolism and displacement. These techniques helped me convey a message and make people think.


Broken head with umbrella and various objects pouring out.

Elizabeth Mokin
Out of My Mind

Pencil, paint
Tampa Preparatory School
Art Teacher: Martha DeAmbrose
Grade 6

Whenever l created this art piece, l thought of what goes on in Dali’s mind, while creating a piece of surrealism. Though it looks like it comes easy to him, l can’t imagine how much time it must, take to just get a start on what he would like to create. The umbrella represents what is holding in, all of those good thoughts, and all the little pieces shown inside the head, are what types of thoughts he has going on!


A sketch of a wolf, with half of its face being colorful ceramics

Camden Rogero
Breakdown

Colored pencil
Tampa Preparatory School
Art Teacher: Martha DeAmbrose
Grade 6

My drawing is called The Breakdown’ because everything pictured is breaking down or disintegrating as they turn into other shapes and substances. Wolves are often associated with the moon and fish are frequently in and around kelp, and these two pairs are interacting with each other as they break down. The kelp on the branches resemble the watches in Dali’s The Persistence of Memory, and – just like them – nothing in my picture is going to stay the same.


A sketch of a cake with hands coming out of it, with their fingertips as candles

Megan Galvin
Slowly Burning Out
Pencil, charcoal, colored pencil
Walker Middle Magnet School
Art Teacher: Trista Johnson
Grade 8


A ballerina in red, with no legs

Madeline Hendren
Umbrella Ballerina
Colored pencil
Walker Middle Magnet School
Art Teacher: Trista Johnson
Grade 7

In my artwork Umbrella Ballerina, I showed a metamorphic moment by combining an umbrella and a ballerina. I morphed these together because I love the rain so much that I end up dancing in it; the rain, like a dancer, is beautiful. I learned I love Surrealism when making this piece. I love creating things that are unreal, unique and out-of-this-world.


Black and white drawing of pyramid shaped bug

William Kim
Bedbug

Pen
Walker Middle Magnet School
Art Teacher: Trista Johnson
Grade 8

In my artwork Bedbug, I showed surrealism and a metamorphic moment by combining a bed and a bug. When I was given the prompt, it made me think of compound words and from this, Bedbug was made. I used hatching and cross-hatching to create value in this piece. I also used harsh perspective as the piece is viewed from an ant’s eye.


Black and white drawing of a woman with a red rose for head. Next to winged creature. Falling red rose petals.

Alanis Trejo
Tears of Rose

Pen and alcohol marker
Walker Middle Magnet School
Art Teacher: Trista Johnson
Grade 7

One thing that inspired me in Tears of Rose was my fondness for bees and roses. The two are often paired together. The elements of metamorphosis in this piece are the transformation of the bee’s wings into bird wings, the head into a human eye, the bee’s tears into wine and the rose as a dress. Something I learned from making this drawing is patience because of the time-consuming nature of the hatching and stippling techniques.


high school

Alphabetical order by school


A naked woman lying on the ground, giving birth to a tree with babies in leaves

Jordan Brust
Mother Nature

Black ink, watercolor, colored pencil, markers
A.P. Leto High School
Art Teacher: Jacqueline Lucas
Grade 12

Mother Nature is often viewed as the personification of a creative or controlling force. My piece represents the role of a mother and how they nurture and provide for their young. However, instead of portraying a woman giving birth to a child, she is uncomfortably giving birth to a tree. This metamorphosis symbolizes the parallels of growth and development.


A sketch of a tree with eyes on it

Dianne Torres Camano
Eyesore

Ink pencil, gel pen, colored pencil, marker
10
A.P. Leto High School
Art Teacher: Jacqueline Lucas

For this piece, I wanted to make something that felt uncomfortable or elicits a reaction. I’m inspired by a lot of horror art and just things that make you squeamish in general. The exhibit’s theme inspired me because using surrealistic techniques gives me the freedom as an artist to explore various themes. With Eyesore, the creative process was very time consuming but worth the struggle.


Mushrooms are growing out of a frog

Alexandra Gallardo
Pick Your Poison

Watercolor, ink pen, colored pencil
A.P. Leto High School
Art Teacher: Jacqueline Lucas
Grade 11

I have created a piece that incorporates two objects that are visually different but have similar characteristics. Therefore, I ended up choosing a frog and wild mushrooms, both being poisonous.
My piece is a symbol of someone having to make a choice: there is an attraction to both options, but regardless of the choice, there are negative consequences.



A human is reaching underground where there is a skeleton

Kloe Hutchingson
Narcissus

Acrylic paint, gel pen, pancil, paint pens
A.P. Leto High School
Art Teacher: Jacqueline Lucas
Grade 11

This piece was inspired by the myth of Narcissus. One of the varying telling’s of the myth was that he was so beautiful that he even refused love from the gods. I wanted to show the juxtaposition of two sides of one man’s reality, internal struggle, and ultimate demise.  


A sketch of an apple pie

Jennifer Pino
Food for Thought

Ink pencil, gel pen, colored pencil, marker
A.P. Leto High School
Art Teacher: Jacqueline Lucas
Grade 10

My piece focuses on the mental struggle that people with eating disorders live with.  Food for Thought represents how society doesn’t always contemplate the true severity of experiencing a mental disorder. I want the viewer to discover that the inside of the pie is replaced with brains, which creates a sense of uneasiness. The color red is used to emphasize the dichotomy between comfort (the pie and the apples) and crisis (the brain/mind) with food.


A skull with pink flowers

Jenna Von Burg
Ephemeral Beauty

Digital
Alonso High School
Art Teacher: Shane Heath
Grade 12

We may overcome nature, but we will never overcome death. The lifespan of a flower is fleeting, short-term, yet never ending- they bloom as quickly as they decay, circling for eternity. But the metamorphosis of humanity is permanent, for once flesh withers away, the bones are all that remains, and one day, even they will crumble to dust.


A ballerina with a pink dress on a blue canvas

Samantha Inman
Taking Flight

Acrylic, watercolor
Alonso High School
Art Teacher: Shane Heath
Grade 11

My piece represents the metamorphic moment a dancer experiences when performing on stage. The ballerina is transforming into the dragonfly that she is trying to embody, with her arms slowing becoming the wings. There is also the change from being in an auditorium to in the sky’s, with the blurred city lights turning into fireflies.


A tiger on a desert with an hourglass

Shayla Pham
Perseverance
Colored pencil, paper
Alonso High School
Art Teacher: Shane Heath
Grade 11

My interpretation of the “Metamorphic Moment” in my artwork is merged with the 2022 Lunar New Year theme. I wanted to create a message about the perseverance of overcoming obstacles. The early stage of conquering your obstacles is not easy, but as you grow into a mature stage, your “wings” will emerge from your “chrysalis”. As you long for your emergence, feeling stuck trying to overcome your obstacles, makes time feel suffocating and trapped. The tiger, this year’s zodiac animal, symbolizes resilience and strength in times of struggle. It looks over us to guide us to our resolutions.


Drawing of forest of trees covered in eyes. Tree stump with human skeleton on top.

Khloe Coffie
Miasmic Carpentry

Watercolor
Bell Creek Academy
Art Teacher: Charles Cawley
Grade 10

This moment of metamorphosis is when production and pricing of goods turns from basing on material to labor and human power, the point where life is imbedded into a product’s history more so than tangible qualities. Watercolor was nice since it slowly builds up the form of the painting. Underneath the finished product is an array of marks and washes that contribute to the final piece, even if not individually distinguishable.


Blue Ink drawing of multiple eyed creature surrounded by smaller creatures.

Alexandra Gillies
Delirium

Ink
Bell Creek Academy
Art Teacher: Charles Cawley
Grade 12

I think it’s rather easy to lose your form and become lifeless during an intense period of stress. Despite your best efforts to hide and try to heal, you will be haunted by what you know and what you must do. Luckily, the ballpoint pen and subsequent 30 hours spent on this piece distracted me from current global circumstances so I’m good.


Drawing of mans face surrounded by pink, blue, green, and grey waves of color.

Kristina Morales
Reincarnated Love
Acrylic Paint
Bell Creek Academy
Art Teacher: Charles Cawley
Grade 12

I was inspired by a retelling of Homer’s Iliad, The Song of Achilles. The face of Achilles is shown in a fig tree which was what his lover described his scent as. I figured that love could be expressed in multiple ways but the most meaningful way would be through giving something in return. I hoped to show this in Achilles being reincarnated as a tree to provide oxygen for his lover even after he is gone.


A human-like coyote is walking in the forest

Kaitlyn Mullen
Nature’s Borders

Painting
Bloomingdale High School
Art Teacher: Diana Speedy
Grade 12

My surrealism piece relates to “The Metamorphic Moment” by displaying the transformation between an animal and a person; transforming two different forms into a completely new one. The surrealism device I presented is Transformation. The fox is transitioning into a human.


Humans with fish heads pointing out to a hook above

Gianna Untied-Leonard
Fish Out of Water

Painting
Bloomingdale High School
Art Teacher: Diana Speedy
Grade 10

My piece depicts the “Metamorphic Moment” by showing the transformation of business people into fish. The fish people reach towards a hook that is seemingly empty. The hook is not empty as it holds the goals, hopes, and dreams that differ from one individual to another. Where we see an empty hook others see chance and opportunity. However, for the people depicted, as they work towards their own goals, they forget that they are simply human.


A painting of a human with a pineapple covering her face

Axe Zack
Pine Appel
Painting
Bloomingdale High School
Art Teacher: Diana Speedy
Grade 11

People are like pineapples; it could take them months or years to grow and develop including their unique features. Although there can be bumps and spikes in the road, everyone is unique and special in their own way, just like pineapples growing in a large field. People grow and develop around other people and grown-ups alike. Each is special— just like a pineapple.


Three heads stacked with connected tongues.

Rachel Cline
Tongue-Tied

Watercolor, pen & ink
Cambridge Christian School
Art Teacher: Amy Dayton
Grade 11

The first thing that inspired me was the phrase “tongue-tied”. I felt a connection because I often find myself stuttering when overwhelmed. By melting three different emotions together, I chose to represent the inner thoughts all into one person. What makes my artwork surreal is the morphing of all three faces into each other and the tongues having no actual source; they are all connected to each other.


A man, partially naked, is sitting in the forest with his eyes covered

Abigail Green
The Metamorphosis of Hyacinthus

Acrylics, paints and pencil
Cambridge Christian School
Art Teacher: Amy Dayton
Grade 10

I was inspired by the myth of Hyacinthus: the Spartan prince who became collateral damage to a godly battle. Once killed, his friend Apollo was so heartbroken, he turned his death into beauty. The theme inspired me to depict what the metamorphic moment may have looked like; being transformed from dead flesh into living, beautiful flowers. By opening the flesh to reveal bone and overlaying the body with blooms, we are invited into the moment.


Drawing to torso surrounded by clock, protractor, and dinosaur.

Angelica Ceballos
Sliver of Time

Watercolor, pen, ink
Chamberlain High School
Art Teacher: Jackie Stewart
Grade 12

At the start of my artwork, I wanted to make a statement about the fashion industry and how corrupt it had become. I drew the torso of a mannequin shifting into the tail of a snake to show this transition from beauty to corruption. The head of the mannequin is a lamp, representing how the industry was originally a bright idea, but the passage of time, shown in the background by the pocket watch, changed it. The spear through the middle of the mannequin shows how damaging the industry is to everything, including the people involved. I want the viewers to be able to form their own opinions about the fashion industry and its negative impacts.


Drawing of butterfly sitting on chess piece.

Paula Verdecia Ramos
Mutatio

Watercolor, pen and ink, end markers
Chamberlain High School
Art Teacher: Jackie Stewart
Grade 12

What inspired me to do this piece is the natural, yet impressive changes of a butterfly’s metamorphosis. The butterfly’s dramatic transformation and the exhibits theme heavily influenced me. I connect to the artwork on an emotional level because it represents me as a person, showing that there are good and bad sides. I focused on making it aesthetically pleasing yet disturbing to the viewer. I want to represent that darkness that exists in even the brightest of things. The viewer will hopefully see how living things have two sides that need to be embraced for change to happen. It taught me to use my innermost feelings and emotions to create an art piece


Drawing of bird-like creature surrounded by branches and eyeballs.

Emerson Urdaneta-Herrera
The Dark Entertainment

Watercolor and pen
Chamberlain High School
Art Teacher: Jackie Stewart
Grade 12

Many animals are kept in captivity for many reasons, including research, experimentation, and entertainment. Dolphins are one of those animals that are kept just for entertainment. Their freedom is taken away just to make us smile. The surrealism introduced by the morphing together of the dolphin and a human. It is moving in a way that implies entertainment. I used watercolor and pen for this piece. I purposefully emphasized the dolphin, by making it larger in proportion and randomly drawing the rest of the composition. I noticed that my errors made by drawing with pen became a source of new ideas to add to the surrealist look.


Drawing of butterfly under glass dome surrounded by eyes

Madison Douglas
Restless

Watercolor, colored pens, Micro pens, markers
East Bay High School
Art teacher: Randall James Klein
Grade 9

The inspiration for this piece of art was the thought of what may go through a butterfly’s head when it is hatching while being watched by humans. The image of a butterfly is a delicate creature with beautiful wings, which some have the desire to recreate. The thought of humans looming over a single butterfly create the delusional image of eyes with legs, showing the humans true form. Those thoughts and sights give a desire to the butterfly to spread shier wings and fly away. The moment of breaking away from its cocoon and leaving behind the delusional sight of these judging and analyzing eyes is what motivates the butterfly.


Two skeletons who are partially dressed in white are sitting on the floor

Jacqueline Calhoun
‘Till Death do We Stay

Digital photography
Freedom High School
Art Teacher: D.J. Fintel
Grade 12


One skeleton and one muscle-human are looking at each other

Enrique Dujali
The Final Stage

Acrylic, colored pencil
Freedom High School
Art Teacher: D.J. Fintel
Grade 12


Drawing of pink skull in a field

Hannah Hansted
It’s a Birthday!

Watercolor, colored pencils, white gel pen
Henry B. Plant High School
Art Teacher: Brian Taylor
Grade 12


Drawing of dragon and snake creature surrounding the earth

Savannah Houston
Guardian

Watercolor, India ink, colored pencils
Henry B. Plant High School
Art Teacher: Josephine Johnson

Guardian is a Copra and a Japanese dragon. The method I used was colored pencil. The colors I used were for people to tell the difference between the two reptiles. The blues are to show that the dragon is safe and caring. The green shows strength and protection. What inspires me to draw the Guardians is my dream to protect people in the world. The Copra shows the bad and good. The viewer should feel like Earth is being protected by unknown creatures.


A sketch of two birds playing domino

Christine Johnson
Tumbling Down

Watercolor, colored pencils, white gel-pen
Henry B. Plant High School
Art Teacher: Josephine Johnson

For my artwork, there was inspiration to resemble the feeling of pulling from one side to another in life. As the viewers follow the movement towards the center of the paper, there is a sensation of making a decision between right and wrong, and suddenly, making a compromise between both sides. The transformation of these objects played into the idea of making choices and the many factors that fall and lead to one conclusion.


Drawing of two human faces attached, looking over a fly.

Giselle Kriitberg-Leon
Seemingly insignificant

Watercolor
Henry B. Plant High School
Art Teacher: Josephine Johnson

This work is inspired by the Dali prompt “Metamorphisis”. In my work, I express the complexity of emotion and the desire to transform into something seemingly insignificant. I used a triadic color scheme of orange, purple, and green to convey this. To create it, I used watercolor and colored pencil.


Student Surrealist Art Exhibit, “Mom, I’m Gay"
By Megan Merritt

Megan Merritt
“Mom, I’m Gay”
Watercolor, India ink, colored pencils
Henry B. Plant High School
Art Teacher: Josephine Johnson

Now I know what you are thinking- “Why did you name it that?”
And the answer- just felt like it.
I made this piece as a testament to, well, me. The rainbow motif running throughout the artwork is representative of two parts of myself that hide in plain sight, and the mask the moth is holding is the shell of the person I pretend I am when I hide it. Because other people are more comfortable when I wear the mask, but sometimes I don’t want to assimilate just for them.
Sometimes I just want to be a moth.


A butterfly is perched on a hand that is covered in flowers

Ella Taylor-Clark
Renewal Through Color

Watercolor, India ink, colored pencicls
Henry B. Plant High School
Art Teacher: Josephine Johnson

For a long time, I was unhappy with myself, and was lost in society’s perception of me. I was inspired by the feeling of finding yourself through renewal and transformation to create the piece “Renewal Through Color.” This work is important to me because it expresses my struggles with gender identity, and how once I pushed away social expectations, I became much happier— even if the old me died in the process.


An eye with flowers coming out of it

Gunel Aliyeva
Visions

Watercolor
Howard W. Blake High School
Art Teacher: Molly Dressel
Grade 11

My artwork is based on the inner growth within ourselves and different ways of seeing it. The whole process of visualizing and recognizing it; for me, what the growing flowers represent. Then the eye is the part where you get to see the growth. Which all ties to back to the title itself, Visions, witnessing your own emergence form one moment to the next.


Black and white drawing of bug in a field.

Ryan Deangelis
Should Have Parked Closer

Graphite and charcoal
Howard W. Blake High School
Art Teacher: Molly Dressel
Grade 11

Change is a journey through unknown territory. This piece is a glimpse into a story of a personified dung beetle taking his belongings to a new home. Sometimes you don’t know where change is going to take you.


Several black butterflies

Vittoria Haynes
Deception

Digital Ink Jet printer
Howard W. Blake High School
Art Teacher: Linda Galgani
Grade 11

What inspired me for this piece was nature and the idea that everyone forms their own interpretation of the image. After taking photos of leaves, I displayed them so that the leaves looked like they were flying. I used filters and created double images to generate the final work. It conveys metamorphosis by showing that the images started out as leaves and turned, or morphed, into whatever the viewers imagination came up with.


Red and orange human form with hand around green and blue human form.

Alisa Leonova
Codependence

Watercolor, watercolor pencils, black pen, black marker
Howard W. Blake High School
Art Teacher: Molly Dressel
Grade 10

As an abstract artist who loves Salvador Dalí, this was a very exciting artwork to make. The title is “Codependence”. My main medium is watercolor (including watercolor pencils), the major outline is in marker, and the finer details are traced in thin pen. My art can be interpreted in many ways, you can think of the meaning in this painting however you’d like. Personally, for me, it represents how much other people affect, and “morph” us. I think a lot about how other people influence us, and exactly how much of our personality and thoughts are other people’s, unoriginal ideas. We are like puzzles, taking pieces of different people and trying to fit them into a clear picture. In my painting I tried to capture a person being swayed away by another, hanging onto them, maybe taking yet another puzzle piece from them.


A woman\'s face with a red hat on her head

N’ryah Maddox
Woman in Disguise

Digital Ink Jet print
Howard W. Blake High School
Art Teacher: Linda Galgani
Grade 12

The artists Dalí and Hamilton inspired me to create this piece. The exhibit’s theme of metamorphosis influenced me to create a piece that displays the choices a woman makes go please the public eye, regarding appearances and fashion. I connect with the idea firsthand with being a woman challenged to uphold society’s standards. My method for creating this work was cutting out different pieces of a woman’s face from magazines and combing them.


Drawing of ocean with horses charging into waves. Land with brown house in background.

Allison Madrid
The Apocalypse

Color pencils, linear pens, markers
Howard W. Blake High School
Art Teacher: Molly Dressel
Grade 12

On the theme of “Metamorphic Moment,” I referenced the four horsemen of the apocalypse with waves crashing around them in reference to the flood in the Bible. This all symbolizes the end of times. I wanted to convey the anxiety and fear of the news of global warming and being in a Christian household. With the constant “the world is nearing its end!” statements from the church (the building in the background). I always have the fear that if I don’t give my all to Christianity, I’ll end up in eternal suffering. And the butterfly represents God and Christian leaders watching eye.


A blonde woman embracing a tree with a phone, railroad car, and a plane

Gaargi Pandit
The Acquisition of Power vs. Purity

Mixed media
Middleton High School
Art Teacher: Kim Pardon
Grade 9

My artwork represents the struggle of power versus purity. I used my interpretation of Ovid’s poem, Metamorphosis, to demonstrate this concept. My artwork features Daphne metamorphosing into a tree, a symbol of incorruptibility, being enveloped in various powerful technologies, all stemming from the sun, a symbol of Apollo, the god who was perusing Daphne in the poem. I mostly used color pencils for the work but for the technologies past the fire, I used graphite. I used plenty of juxtaposition in my artwork, for example, I put the sun on the ground next to the tree. I used collaging to make the manifestations of power pop out from the page.


Drawing of man crying and reaching out from under blue waves.

Reagan Crabtree
Overflowing Prison

Watercolor, pen & ink
Plant City High School
Art Teacher: Nicole Carpenter
Grade 9

My piece is called Overflowing Prison. It is a surrealistic piece done in watercolor and pen. From the start I knew I wanted to use water in my piece. Water is a constant and never-ending property I have always felt connected too. They story of Overflowing Prison is about a girl who gets trapped. By crying and trying to escape, she ends up making her situation worse by adding to the water she is trapped in. I want my piece to show how people can transform their situations by their actions – for better or for worse. My idea of the metamorphic moment is conceptual – the transformation comes from within the person, rather than a physical change.


Hand emerging from ceiling grabbing blob with human faces

Kaylie Jackson
The Inception of Change

Colored pencil
Plant City High School
Art Teacher: Nicole Carpenter
Grade 11

When I made this colored pencil piece The Inception of Change, my mind immediately went to the idea of technology, and how it has changed. When I thought of the theme “Metamorphic Moment”, it made me think of how technology has progressed and how it continues to change. I believe that soon technology will be able to create something of its own. I wanted to create an image that showed an object or substance physically changing into something else, showing the future advancements of technology. From the perspective that I have drawn the piece, it almost feels like humans are the ones in the cage being shaped by technology.


A woman whose upper body is made of balloons in a colorful street

Laney Runkles
Universal Love

Pencil, pen, watercolor
Plant City High School
Art Teacher: Nicole Carpenter
Grade 11

The story behind my work is love. When I made this piece, I was deeply in love. I wanted to express those feelings in my art through the colors and even the word love placed in the corner. That was metamorphic for me because when I lost the person who I was in love with, I was sad, but I grew from it as well. I know that the person who I loved will always be with me.


A goat-shaped mountain in the middle of sea

Michaela Farnsworth
The Forgotten Island

Watercolor
Riverview High School
Art Teacher: Emilie Griest
Grade 11

My piece, The Forgotten Island, depicts a sleeping dragon that has been long-forgotten as it sleeps far out in the ocean. The dragon has been asleep for so long that its body has become a part of the ecosystem. Its bones have turned to stone and moss has slowly begun the process of encompassing it in like a blanket. The dragon, in this comatose state, has only the company of the schools of fish that call its rocky scales home. The drain may possibly never be discovered by humanity. As it lays in rest, it waits for a new morning of warm sun when it can finally be released from its stony confines.


Drawing of sculpture of woman holding human hand.

Alexandra Kosoff
Pygmalion

Gouache
Riverview High School
Art Teacher: Emilie Griest
Grade 12

I chose to portray the Greek myth of Pygmalion. The story tells about an artist that falls in love with his sculpture of his ideal woman. Aphrodite grants him his wish and allows the sculpture to turn into a real woman. The more Pygmalion touches his creation, the livelier she becomes. I chose to show her transformation by painting the sculptors hand touching the statues face e, actively turning the stone into flesh. The tone of the background and the stone is cool, contrasting with the warm areas where the sculpture has already turned human.


Drawing of large egg with girl emerging from cracks. Surrounded by arms reaching out. Orange background with red flowers.

Meredith Smith
Breaking Your Shell

Colored pencil on paper
Riverview High School
Art Teacher: Emilie Griest
Grade 12

Using the theme metamorphosis, I thought about it from a personal perspective. In the picture I created, it shows a person who is in a shell. This represents an introverted person. The shell is being broken open by the hands of the people in that introverted person’s life. This could include friends, family members, classmates, etc. that get you to open and become more so dial. Although it is hard to do on your own, people breaking you out of your shell can transform your life for the better.


A naked woman holding onto an eyeball

Isabella Genova
Eye

Colored pencil
Sickles High School
Art Teacher: Megan Fernandez
Grade 12

I have been fascinated by the traditional understanding of the human condition. What starts out as vision soon becomes corrupted into a manifesto of futility, leaving only a sense of nihilism and the unlikelihood of a new beginning. The feeling that the eye is how many only see the world, neglecting any other senses.


A skeleton whose one eye socket is covered by a red rose

Karolynne Marie Gutierrez
The Beauty in Death

Graphite, watercolor, vellum
Sickles High School
Art Teacher: Eric Milan
Grade 12

“The light in death” represents the growth, and beauty that comes after a tragedy. I have a very personal connection with this piece as it was inspired by a family member who was taken from earth and from me 7 years ago.  After her death I felt depressed, but after a few years, I started to become this new person and I had grown because this event. In the end, there is something beautiful in even the worst events.


A woman with a crown is holding a pomegranate

Sraddha Karthik
Persephone and Medusa are NOT BESTIES

Graphite pencil, colored pencil, gold-leafing pen, black India ink
Sickles High School
Art Teacher: Eric Milan
Grade 11

Greek mythology overflows with transformations, the greatest of them being the metamorphosis of Persephone from the Goddess of Spring to Queen of the Underworld. I sought to portray the often-overlooked darker aspects of the famous myth and hope to emphasize Persephone’s emotional distress through a dramatic color palette. The gold leaf accessories serve as a subtle nod to her mother Demeter’s Olympian status. The piece is meant to symbolize that change isn’t always positive.


Street puddle with reflection of girl in yellow boots and raincoat next to a tall building. Surrounded by orange fish.

Thuy Lieng
A Sight Seen Twice

Watercolor
Sickles High School
Art teacher: Leah Woerner
Grade 9

A puddle is the smallest yet loudest portal nature can created. Though water has a low albedo, the reflection of its surroundings, incorporated with the disorientation of ripples; illustrates an entire new world. I imagined the metamorphosis of an asphalt city as it flowed into koi pond. I wanted to include the stereotypical elements of a city, traffic signs, newspapers, and the pedestrians, and juxtaposed them + utilize watercolors to create “a sight seen twice.”


Drawing of human skull surrounded by tools, jar with eyeball, and severed hand

Grey Martin
The Evolution of Mech

Watercolor, acrylic paint, fine tip pens, and white gel pens    
Sickles High School
Art Teacher: Eric Milan
Garde 11

For my Dali piece, I wanted to make a statement about AI technology and how advanced it is. I tried to show that by making an abandoned robot using nearby resources to recreate himself with a more human look. The idea of technology becoming advanced enough to enhance its own evolution is fun to play around with artistically, so I used the idea of AI transitioning into humanity.


A naked woman with a baby in her uterus

Nyira Mitchell
Nature’s Blessing

Acrylic paint, colored pencils, white felt pen, watercolor
Sickles High School
Art teacher: Leah Woerner
Grade 9

I was inspired by the growth process. I used metamorphosis in the tree forming into a mother that is growing a baby in her stomach. This work is important to me because not everyone thinks about the other meanings of metamorphosis, such as the growing and forming process. I created my work by using watercolor and acrylic paints and then added details with colored pencil and pen.


A portrait of a woman with her hair lifted

Amanda Murdock
Mother’s Love

Acrylic paint
Sickles High School
Art Teacher: Eric Milan
Grade 12

“Mother’s Love” was painted to represent the stability, growth, and care a mother takes for her child. The woman slowly transforming into a tree is to symbolize the ‘roots’ a mother places down for her child and the branches to show the protection- protection from whichever storm is to come. The love and care I put into the painting is a way to thank the maternal figures in my life- for their endless strength.


Drawing of girls in pink dresses with blue bags tied over their heads. Surrounded by green frogs with wings. In front of a yellow stripped background

Kylana Prince
Life of Indago Milk Cap

Colored pencils, Prismacolor
Sickles High School
Art Teacher: Megan Fernandez
Grade 9

I was inspired by mushrooms with personalities. I drew mushroom humanoids at different stages and frogs with butterfly wings over a wallpaper background. Metamorphosis is shapeshifting in art like my mushrooms shifting through life. I chose mushrooms because they represent safety and good luck to me. I used colored pencils which I learned to blend. This represents Surrealism as it’s not seen in real life. The techniques used were levitation, juxtaposition and metamorphosis.


Drawing of a loaf of bread shaped house lived in by rats.

Emily Santos
Welcome to the Lovettes
Watercolor, pen & ink
Sickles High School
Art Teachcer: Valerie Deluca
Grade 11


Drawing of kiwi bird being sliced by knife. Inside the bird is the kiwi fruit. New Zealand flag in the background.

Connor Schuelke
New Zealand at the Chopping Block

Markers, colored pencil
Sickles High School
Art Teacher: Megan Fernandez
Grade 11

A similar surrealism work that inspired me was Vladimir Kush’s “Butterfly Apple.” There is no hidden message or point about society being made in my work, it is just quiet literally being made in my work, it is quite literally some things that represent New Zealand but this work feels special to me because it is one of the better more mature feeling works I have created. Something I learned is using something as simple as some white highlight lines can add definition and more realism to a work.


Drawing of eyeball, woman's torso, and butterfly surrounded by patches of watercolor.

Cecil Stephenson
Apparatus of Change

Acrylic paint, pencil, pen
Sickles High School
Art teacher: Leah Woerner
Grade 10

This artwork is inspired by change and the thoughts brought about by it. As no stranger to the adversity brought about by change, this piece illustrates the motions evoked in metamorphosis of one’s life.


A yellow and red bird coming out of the ocean

Stephanie Swartz
The Transition to Freedom

Colored pencils, Prismacolor
Sickles High School
Art Teacher: Megan Fernandez
Grade 11

I used Prismacolors for this whole piece. I created a movement-filled scene showing the metamorphosis of a fish into a bird with a warm sky and cool blue water. This metamorphosis represents growing and changing out of a bad situation. With the harsh waters being pushed against the fish, it turns into a bird that symbolizes overcoming hardships.


Drawing of man and woman with insect heads in front of lines of text.

Davison Anderson
Lovers True Form

Pen, college
Spoto High School
Art Teacher: Grace Regan
Grade 11

My art teacher prompted my class to do a surrealist piece on the life cycle of an insect. The insect I chose was the stone-fly. At its larvae stage, it creates a layer of protection using stones or anything else it can find. I separately created the two lovers on multimedia paper with a pen. For the background, I pieced together parts of a magazine, and finally for the larvae I used the leftover images and drew over it in pen.


Drawing of a butterfly eating and apple surrounded by patches of blue and orange color.

Isabella Concepcion
Sharkfly

Marker, pen, colored pencil, alcohol
Spoto High School
Art Teacher: Grace Regan
Grade 9

I started this drawing with a fly, and added more animals to it, making it appear as if it is real. I tried to make it look bigger by using a strawberry as reference. I used almost every medium that was given me to create my piece. I used blue and orange as contrast and blended out the ink using alcohol.


A profile of a human face that is purple

Amelia Bitting
Colloquial Cavern of Creation

Colored pencil
Strawberry Crest High School
Art Teachers: Barbara Lawton & Kirsten Whittaker
Grade 11

This piece is a visual of the metamorphosis of the mind. The imagery is a representation of the change, but also the anatomy of the nerves and curves of the brain. The term “colloquial” is a word used to describe a familiar and informal use of language. One will always be the most familiar with themselves, even at times when familiarity is lost during an important change in life.


A sketch of a giraffe and an astronaut sitting together at a table

Patrick Cseh
Cosmic Rabbit Hole

Graphite
Strawberry Crest High School
Art Teachers: Barbara Lawton & Kirsten Whittaker
Grade 10

I was inspired by the classic story of Alice in Wonderland and the magic of “going down the rabbit hole.” I used dislocation, imposing the rabbit behind the ceiling tiles in space and subtle symbolism throughout the composition. It was important for me to include three poker players to resemble the mad hatter and co., while in this case the rabbit resembles Alice. My piece makes me think of a rabbit-hole within the rabbit-hole.


Drawing of porcelain bust opening a door

Rylie Gibson
Arachne’s Revenge

Digital/Procreate
Strawberry Crest High School
Art Teachers: Barbara Lawton & Kirsten Whittaker
Grade 12

Arachne challenged Athena to a weaving competition. After Arachne lost, Athena turned her into a spider, so she could weave forever. The spider hanging from the web is Arachne, and she wants revenge. A statue of Athena is seen behind the open door. The door symbolizes new beginnings, but Arachne’s webs are blocking the doorway, allowing no beginnings. Fortunately, there are three eggs hanging above the door, symbolizing hope, somehow.


Figure sitting by candles next to an angel

Nicole Gray
I Heard of a Saint who had Loved You

Digital/Procreate
Strawberry Crest High School
Art Teachers: Barbara Lawton & Kirsten Whittaker
Grade 12

Inspired by the lyricism in Leonard Cohen’s song, “One of Us Cannot Be Wrong”, I explored the idea of the absurdity/abstract nature of love. I used space, color, and exaggeration to show the surreal and isolating feeling it may bring to its lovers. Morphing of the woman’s gown stretched into a clock represents the distortion of time. The main figure represents suffering and loneliness. The smoke illustrates pain, bleeding into the torso.


Drawing of butterflies and caterpillars hanging from a string. Surrounded by leaves.

Havyn Hines
The Chrysalis Stage is Not a Resting Stage

Ohuhu markers, Prismacolor pencil
Strawberry Crest High School
Art Teachers: Barbara Lawton & Kirsten Whittaker
Grade 9

For my piece,, I was inspired to turn the literal word “Metamorphosis”, like the butterfly cycle, into something untraditional by giving human characteristics to the insects’ cycles. This process also helped my abilities to try to mutate things as subtle as I can and how you have to trust the process as patience is a virtue. I incorporated scale and subtle juxtaposition, creating a delicate interaction between human bone and the chrysalis.


A skeleton with a flower on its head holding and looking at a heart

Briseida Islas-Rubio
Eternal Seeking

Prismacolor, ink
Strawberry Crest High School
Art Teachers: Barbara Lawton & Kirsten Whittaker
Grade 10

When beginning my work, the skeleton inspired me. The skeleton is often associated with death, an inevitable fate. The skeletons neck resembled a staircase, leading miniature people to the glowing rib cage, giving a surreal element. The skeleton holds its heart as if reflecting. This work is important to me because it’s a symbolic reminder that while the world is cruel, it’s also beautiful and the reason we are encouraged to live and die.


A chess board with a yellow-colored surreal cat in the background

Joel Lopez
Chess-ire Cat

Watercolors
Strawberry Crest High School
Art Teachers: Barbara Lawton & Kirsten Whittaker
Grade 11

My inspiration towards chess-ire cat was vintage homes, my cat, and Picasso’s cubist art style. I worked with scale for the chessboard, making it seem tilted and dislocated, including some parts of the cat and chess pieces. I wanted to emphasize a symbolic relationship between the pursued and the pursuer. Charcoal and watercolors create a vintage look with texture. I learned that advice/critiques from people can help one’s art.


Field with hand shaped flowers and bird shaped like human hearts.

Evelyn Perez-Granados
The Garden of Life

Acrylic paint and ink
Strawberry Crest High School
Art Teachers: Barbara Lawton & Kirsten Whittaker
Grade 11

Life is beautiful, just like nature.
In this magical little garden, nature takes human form from birds transforming into human hearts to flowers being capable of sight, touch, smell, and taste. In this dreamlike setting I wanted to explore the metamorphic moment through symbolism and transformation. I reflected on how we find beauty when one can look deeper into familiar things, we can find ourselves and be grateful for what we have.


A creature with a human face

Erison Vail-Carreto
The Story of Manny

Ink, pen
Strawberry Crest High School
Art Teachers: Barbara Lawton & Kirsten Whittaker
Grade 9

The artwork, “The Story of Manny”, relates to the theme of unpleasantness and beauty. The creature is a blend of what someone might find as repulsing and/or appealing with those physical traits being the centipede and the human. With the theme of metamorphosis in mind, I added the somewhat natural blend of two organisms showing a familiar yet unrecognizable form of the human body.


Ceramic of blue crown dripping in yellow slime.

Kalel Cote
The Midas Touch

Photograph of ceramic
Sumner High School
Riverview
Art Teacher: Valerie Deluca
Grade 10


Drawing of pink human figure draped in blue fabric and green vines and butterflies.

Iliana Otero
A Loss of Youth and Gain of Beauty

Watercolor, ink pen, colored pencil
Sumner High School
Art Teacher: Juan Duarte
Grade 12

The artwork symbolizes my own experience of metamorphosis through age and uses Inspiration from Dalí’s works that present different stages of life. The piece reflects emotions felt after becoming 18. A form emerging from cloth represents a beginning in womanhood, cracks in the form convey the loss of childish youth with fear of adult hood, and butterflies emerging amongst strands of hair express the beauty the woman.


An image of children\'s toys

Breanne Galbreath
Every Growing Photography

Tampa Preparatory School
Art teacher: Martha DeAmbrose
Grade 11

In life we go through stages. Learning new things, forgetting others…This piece is encapsulating the very start of my journey as a child, an artist, and a student. A reminder for me to never lose sight of who I was when I started and why I love creating.


Drawing of a human body with bird face on top of green background.

Johanna Kunz
On the Precipice of Change

Mixed media
Tampa Preparatory School
Art teacher: Martha DeAmbrose
Grade 11

In life, it’s natural to have confusion about your identity. Who you are and who you want others to perceive you as. I remember my mother telling me when I was little never to touch a bird’s egg from it’s nest because it would end up being isolated. The egg my figure is holding is representing how she is on the precipice of a new stage in life, looking back on who she was. Will holding onto this moment do more harm than good? Instead of building more walls around herself should she be vulnerable with others?


A sketch of a frog and Christmas candies in a forest

Kelly Allred
A Pepperminty Home

Pencil
Wharton High School
Art Teacher: Ching-Yi Chen
Grade 10

This art piece is inspired by Christmas time and the general holiday season that can be represented by peppermint and candy canes. Holidays are known as a time for families to reunite at home, which is represented but the snail’s shell. However, sometimes there are negatives to holidays, which is represented by the broken candy cane trees.


Strawberries with faces on a plate

Amel Alsakeny
Untitled

Colored pencils
Wharton High School
Art Teacher: Ching-Yi Chen
Grade 11

In my artwork, the plate represents the human brain while the strawberries represent the different emotions within the brain. The eyes in the background are acting as observers of those emotions. My work was inspired by the penury of the pandemic. The theme of Surrealism with a focus on metamorphosis is presented by showing the strawberries with eyes, to indicate different human emotions. I sketched on a base of watercolor and layered with colored pencils.


A woman, who is afraid of spiders, is trying to get rid of them

Ashlynn Costello
Overassessed

Watercolor
Wharton High School
Art Teacher: Curt Steckel
Grade 11

Overassessed concerns the metamorphosis of a thought. Young beetles inhabiting the brain spill out of the eyes, eventually flying out and away. They represent a thought exploding into reality, but still lingering on the skin. To align with Surrealism I opted for this gross, shocking effect. I used watercolor to create a dingy, detailed background with hyper-realistic beetles.


A heart is dripping blood

Shanthi Kulkarni
Autumn Leaves

Colored pencil
Wharton High School
Art Teacher: Curt Steckel
Grade 10

This artwork is inspired by a song that holds much meaning to me, “Autumn Leaves” by BTS. Through the process of creating this, I wanted to represent the feeling of youth slowly fading away with time. The fear of this “fifth season” in life, our youth, passing by and dying out follows with the desperation to hold onto it. Like how one hopes their youth shall stay, the autumn leaves shall never fall.


A tree out of a pencil

Nur Ali Abushihadeh
The More We Take, the More We Lose

Acrylic paint
Wharton High School
Art Teacher: Ching-Yi Chen
Grade 9

I was inspired to draw a tree that is morphing into a pencil to represent how people are only focused on themselves and their necessities more than nature and the environment. I focused on using metamorphosis to create ¬¬¬¬the main form of symbolism, making this art piece surreal. The statement of this painting is the importance of the environmental health of our community’ as this has always mattered to me and should to more people.


Drawing of surrealist room with fragments of human and tree forms

Arden Spiro
No Room for Reality

Colored pencil
Wharton High School
Art Teacher: Curt Steckel
Grade 12
When creating “No Room for Reality,” I was inspired by a lesson I learned as a child — there is never nothing going on — the world is, if anything, busy and ever-changing. The theme “metamorphosis” led me to create a space, using colored pencil on paper, so dense with excitement, complexity, and constant change that it shows people that life is art—we simply have to look at it that way, and watch the beauty emerge.