student surrealist art exhibit online: 2021 Pinellas County
“Delusions, Desires and Delicacies”
Initiated in 1992, this annual juried art exhibit presents work by middle and high school students whom we invite to explore ideas and visions similar to those explored by Salvador Dalí and the surrealists. The 2021 theme is “Delusions, Desires and Delicacies,” a theme that encourages students to explore these dream-like ideas inspired by our subconscious wants and fears.
Sigmund Freud, the father of Psychoanalysis, was one of the first scientists to propose that dreams were not just the residue from sleep. He argued that dreams function like a language, and can be interpreted scientifically in order to understand a person’s fears, desires, and motivations. His dream studies greatly influenced the surrealists, who looked to their dreams for inspiration. An avid follower of Freud, Dalí describer his paintings as “hand-painted dream photographs.”
“Delusions, Desires and Delicacies” encourages students to create dream-like visions and look to their dreams for inspiration. The definitions suggest possible approaches to the competition: a delusion is “a belief that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality…” Desire is “a strong feeling of wanting to have something or wishing for something to happen.”
A delicacy is “something delightful or pleasing, especially a choice food considered with regard to its rarity, costliness.” Each definition suggests a possible approach for students to create their own “hand-painted dream photograph.”
Thank you to our sponsor:
middle school
Alphabetical order by school
(Click images to enlarge)
Stephen Bach
Don’t Eat the Seeds
Bay Point Middle School
Teacher: Jenna Hasbrouck
Grade: 7
I used digital editing and dislocation to make this surrealist piece of art. I wanted the viewer to know that the watermelon sellers are greedy and that they want the seeds to harm those who eat them. I also wanted to play off of the phrase “money doesn’t grow on trees.”
Montague Cheffer
Perfection
Bay Point Middle School
Teacher: Jenna Hasbrouck
Grade 8
I watched this interesting documentary about plastic surgery and how it can make you look opposite of what you want. The exhibits theme influenced me to draw this piece because I thought that the idea of being ‘perfect’ fits very well with it, I think this artwork reminds me that I don’t have to change and that I can continue just being me.
Jafnah Suha
Eat Me
Bay Point Middle School
Teacher: Jenna Hasbrouck
Grade 8
The word delicacies really inspired me to draw something with food. This artwork signifies loneliness in a creepy way. This is important to me because sometimes people just end up in a sad place, whether they like it or not. My work is an example of surrealism because it uses symbolism and scale to make it seem like an unreal world where you are being swallowed up by yourself, all due to loneliness.
Alaina Campagna
Evolution
Carwise Middle School
Teacher: Lori Manning
Grade 8
Leonardo Ciardo
The Flock
Carwise Middle School
Teacher: Lori Manning
Grade 7
Kara Komerska
My Birthday
Carwise Middle School
Teacher: Lori Manning
Grade 8
Dempsy Stein
The Altar
Carwise Middle School
Teacher: Lori Manning
Grade 7
Megan Jones
Alter Egos
Clearwater Fundamental
Teacher: Karen Santangelo
Grade 7
My main inspiration for this artwork were my thoughts. My mind is a blank piece of paper, folded every which way, drawn on, cut up, written on, stained, but it is still me. Still that same paper. No matter how many emotions I have, or how different or odd I seem, it is still me. I would like the viewer to know that if you fight your alter egos, you can’t win a fight against yourself.
Colette Kistulentz
Flying High
Clearwater Fundamental Middle School
Teacher: Karen Santangelo
Grade 7
My artwork shows surrealism by showing faceless people holding their faces on balloons. It’s also meant to represent the pandemic in a way, as the people are far apart, and their blank faces represent face masks. The balloons represent how people can still show their faces very limitedly – whether online or far apart.
Anabella Garnica
Confusion
Dunedin Middle School
Teacher: Tom Schreiber
Grade 7
Looking through images of delusion and inspiration, I thought about this image of someone going crazy because the world around them was becoming nonsensical and strange. I could picture this surreal world that the girl was imagining, swallowing any sense of logic. From planning to creating this artwork, I learned that you can always add more to something to make it even better.
Jillian Clark
Eyes On Me
John Hopkins Middle School
Teacher: Sara Black
Grade 8
Rinesa Murati
Now You See Me
John Hopkins Middle School
Teacher: Sara Black
Grade 8
Verity Skelton
Found In Nature
John Hopkins Middle School
Teacher: Sara Black
Grade 8
Olivia Wessel
Hungry
John Hopkins Middle School
Teacher: Sara Black
Grade 8
Jayla Higdon
Off The Wall
John Hopkins Middle School
Teacher: Krista Schilling
Grade 7
Kendall Kenas
King Crab
John Hopkins Middle School
Teacher: Krista Schilling
Grade 6
Melinda Iliz
Divine Resurrection
Madeira Beach Fundamental K-8 School
Teacher: Kurt Schuster
Grade 7
My work explores the process of resurrection, how one’s own self can go through any thought that can harm the mind and just simply recover from all that. It’s a lovely yet fascinating thing how the mind is so strong and firm yet people can just harm themselves on anything they find, The mind can flip like a switch but the most divine part of it all is that we can just learn from those thoughts and just watch it fly away. Butterfly’s symbolize transformation and hope, which is why I felt the need to involve them in this piece, Because the main part about learning is to evolve from that way of thinking and I believe butterfly’s show that in a very elegant way. Overall this piece is to symbolize how we can all go through many hardships but the end result can be very beautiful.
Sophia Keith
Overwhelmed
Madeira Beach Fundamental K-8 School
Teacher: Kurt Schuster
Grade 7
Olivia Tucker
Pick Your Brain
Madeira Beach Fundamental K-8 School
Teacher: Kurt Schuster
Grade 8
This painting is a representation of the feeling everything is falling apart, and things being worse than they really are. Being at war with yourself, in your own mind, the feeling of all hopelessness when outside its fine all you want or need right in front of you. Until your perceived reality begins to seep into the real world, and these thoughts seem very alive.
Elizabeth Young
Nightmares of the Deer Skull!
Osceola Middle School
Teacher: Dwayne Shepherd
Grade 8
I was inspired to create this surreal work of art because I have had this disturbing re-occurring dream with being chased by someone with a deer skull head!
Madison Brodie
Puzzled
Pinellas Park Middle School
Teacher: Sandra Robinette
Grade 7
Aiden Donald
Shattered Dreams
Sanderlin PK-8 School
Teacher: Tina Clark
Grade 7
Delaney Vessey
The Path
Tarpon Springs Middle School
Teacher: Gabrielle Medina
Grade 7
When creating this artwork, what most inspired me was life itself. The Path has many hidden meanings to which only some can relate. I find that even people who can’t relate can still morph its meaning and apply it to their own life. While making this piece, I learned that watercolor isn’t just a tool someone can paint with, but rather a medium that can create a whole story.
Amaya Boyd
Flight of the Hatching Cranes and Falling Roses
Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School
Teacher: Peter Hynes
Grade: 7
Olivia Hoyt
The Intricate Misconceptions Of Time Immersed In The Delicate Fruit Of The Vine
Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School
Teacher: Peter Hynes
Grade 8
Peyton Pilkington
The Wilting Of Flowers Dripping Through The Grape Vine
Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School
Teacher: Peter Hynes
Grade 8
Reagan Segraves
Unwanted Generosity
Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School
Teacher: Peter Hynes
Grade 8
Addison Vranich
The Delicate Bouquet Nourished by The Light of a Pulsating Star
Thurgood Marshall Fundamental Middle School
Teacher: Peter Hynes
Grade 8
After learning about Surrealism in my photography class, I was inspired by the many techniques used when creating a Surrealist work of art. When making my project, I relied heavily on the use of symbolism. The light in the person’s eye simply represents the sun, while the surrounding flowers grow along the figure’s face.
Je’vaughn Williams
The Migration Of The Monarch Butterfly
Thurgood Marshall Fund Middle School
Teacher: Peter Hynes
Grade 8
Caleb Charles
Colorful Mask
Tyrone Middle School
Teacher: Karissa Herb
Grade 7
I wanted to portray the current world in a surreal way. I thought it would be cool to make wearing a mask look exciting rather than annoying. What makes my work surreal is the glitchy effect I created by doubling the image. It makes the illusion that my face is transforming. This project and exhibition taught me that working hard gets you somewhere in life. This artwork makes me happy and hopefully you too!
Aveory Taylor
Masked Medusa
Tyrone Middle School
Teacher: Karissa Herb
Grade 8
What inspired me was the surreal technique dislocation. I like the look of gas masks and I just was wondering what if medusa had a mask, so I collaged snakes coming out of the eyes of the mask. I was really just playing and messing around with putting objects in unfamiliar places. This project taught me that little thing can turn into big things with a little imagination.
high school
Alphabetical order by school
Kylie Parker
Little Bean Knitting
Boca Ciega High School
Teacher: Adam Crump
Grade 12
This art piece was inspired from a cute little piece of branch that I had found on the floor outside of my bus stop. It looked exactly like a little sprite’s head, so I became inspired to make a creature based off of it. This character is important to me because he’s part of the stories I create. My biggest wish is to portray my tales and characters through my art.
Britney Meza
Seeing, Yet Not Knowing
Boca Ciega High School
Teacher: Mark Villinger
Grade 10
The woman within the composition is wearing a traditional style Kimono, which originates from that of Japanese culture. In this work, the female figure sees a familiarity towards the painting situated in front of her. Did the painting become her, or did she become the painting? As her face and identity begin to disappear, she wonders who she is. In the corner of the piece is me – the only true being within the drawing. The woman in the kimono is revealed to be just another creation of mine. This work represents my own reflection of my artwork as I peer in the new life, I’ve given it, it’s beyond me now. All I can do is observe from the outside.
Lauren Fornshell
Interspacial Mental Aquarium
Clearwater High School
Teacher: Clayton Burkey
Grade 11
Jesus Valencia
Maniacal Subconscious
Clearwater High School
Teacher: Clayton Burkey
Grade 12
Hayleigh Seiler
Entangled
Countryside High School
Teacher: Maria Andersen
Grade 12
Isaiah Sizemore
Fate
Countryside High School
Teacher: Maria Andersen
Grade 12
Maria Viana
Incarceration
Countryside High School
Teacher: Maria Andersen
Grade 12
Taylor Eby
Something’s Fishy
Countryside High School
Teacher: Allyson Leja
Grade 12
Neufarth Lindsay
Breaking the Surface
Countryside High School
Teacher: Allyson Leja
Grade 11
Avery Krebs
Slippery When Wet
Dunedin High School
Teacher: Sal Gulino
Grade 11
My artwork was influenced by the theme: “delusions, desires, and delicacies” because it’s an unrealistic, dainty fantasy of becoming something different. It is surreal because of the transformation from human to fish. The bathtub represents how you can still be yourself in private. The enclosed small bathroom represents a safe space in isolation to let yourself grow.
Trinity Parsons
Robot Workshop
Dunedin High School
Teacher: Sal Gulino
Grade 10
The inspiration for my work is the surreal style steampunk. The piece is about balancing the mechanics of time and the fluidity of the mind. I represented this with floating clocks and with a fish bowl as the head of my figure. It is intentionally vague and open to the viewer.
Mario Tagaras
Proper Exchange
Dunedin High School
Teacher: Sal Gulino
Grade 12
This piece was inspired by a problem that I’ve observed. That problem is the lack of proper exchange of ideas, issues and regular communication. We can’t just have normal, reasonable, and respectful conversations about anything anymore. One side or both just can’t listen to each other. I want the viewer to consider this. I believe this piece fits well the theme of the show the delusion of good communication and the desire for actual communication is conveyed in a surreal way. The piece intentionally lacks eyes and ears, while emphasizing the mouths of the figures. Even the idea of a proper exchange has become a surreal thought.
Delaney Rosson
Open Your Mind
East Lake High School
Teacher: Rob Golombek
Grade 11
With the desires we feel as humans, can also come the essence of feeling so consumed by something that you start to turn into someone unrecognizable. Your dreams and hopes slowly and float away as the delicacy takes its place and your aspirations and desires turn into delusions of your own mere fantasy. And with the growing desire, what seems morally permissible is in actuality inherently harmful.
Mia Quattrocki
Attracted
East Lake High School
Teacher: Nate Greenwood
Grade 9
I was inspired to make this “Attracted” piece by the way each organic form draws things in. As the colors attract the eye of everything around it and the top structure, based off the Pitcher Plant, draws in frogs to consume and survive. As I continued creating this artwork I got to see what beautiful things come from the combination of natural forms.
Arielle Shabo
Envy
East Lake High School
Teacher: Nate Greenwood
Grade 10
For this project I was inspired by my own emotions, my feelings of envy. I get envious when seeing others have what I’ve always wanted simply handed right to them, I start to wish I was in their place. I’m glad to see others have good things given to them but I start to feel as though I’m unfortunate. When sculpting I projected my feelings of envy by representing what it feels like for me.
Emily Bayer
Larger Than Life
East Lake High School
Teacher: Eileen Iacobucci
Grade 12
This piece relates to the desire to be above it all, how desires can lead to the delusion of destruction, and how our world seems to crash and cave in all around us. Whether it is intentional or not, it’s in human nature to strive to succeed in great length, beyond our peers, and have people perceive us as greater beings than themselves. This leads to dissociation and ultimately, the feeling of disaster and defeat.
Janeva Buczynski
A Slice Of Red Velvet Waist
East Lake High School
Teacher: Eileen Iacobucci
Grade 12
This piece was inspired by eating disorders and the delusion that results from being unable to meet unrealistic desires, which causes delicacies to become deadly. I’d like the viewer to know that no questionable methods of physical improvement will achieve sustainable results, and you need to love yourself no matter what you look like. You are more than just a body.
Luna Garcia
The Escape
East Lake High School
Teacher: Eileen Iacobucci
Grade 11
The word that initially stood out to me was desire. I simply asked myself, what do I desire most in the world? There’s a window in my room where the birds tend to visit. I envy their ability to fly away from their troubles, to go wherever, without a worry of materialistic things. I found the irony in the moment. For they are the ones truly free while us humans are caged by obligations.
Nike Harris
We Are One
East Lake High School
Teacher: Eileen Iacobucci
Grade 12
My inspiration came from a dream that showed humans desiring power over nature. This is illustrated through the crown over the human’s head. The animals fitting with one another shows how the animal kingdom is able to live in perfect harmony among one another, unlike humans. The message I wanted to convey is that people should take note of how harmonious nature works together and apply it to how they live their everyday lives.
Vanessa Odom
Swimming In Circles
East Lake High School
Teacher: Eileen Iacobucci
Grade 12
This piece was inspired by Japanese folklore around “Mononoke.” Mononoke are vengeful spirits which take over humans in situations of intense trauma or loss. The woman in this piece was drowned by a drunken fisherman, leaving her to forever reside within the depths of the ocean. A Mononoke then took over her body to seek revenge. She now lures unsuspecting fishermen into such waters using her desirable beauty as a weapon of revenge. As a response, she blinds them with her mythical power, and with time they transform into that of a fish and remain with her for the rest of eternity.
Emma Harrison
Ghost Notes
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Steve Beverage
Grade 12
As a violinist, one of my subconscious desires is to have a spell cast on my fingers to play every note perfectly. The title, Ghost Notes, encapsulates the wispy, air-like sounds that occurs when shifting between two notes on the violin. Violinists and artists alike desire to have another set of hands to make art-making easier. I used photography and played the shadow of my violin with the shadow of my hand.
Paige Hawkins
Death’s Divine Delusion
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Steve Beverage
Grade 12
The image of death is a strange one, as it has no true face. Therefore, for many, visions of Death tend to be strange, otherworldly and devoid of an earthly explanation for their presence or appearance. I imagine these visions, or deathly delusions, show a multifaceted version of Death as we could perceive it — a stripped down, hollowed version of our own selves.
Maggie Mckay
Regenesis in the Age of Apocalypse
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Steve Beverage
Grade 12
I wanted to approach the word pansophy (all knowing wisdom) and issues pertaining to the pandemic in a subtle manner. In order to do this I used the visual of the monstrous god like crow to symbolize death and plague, and the long angel wings to incase the figures with a powerful presence surrounding them. It’s tongues sprout straight from its brain and wrap around the repenting figures’ mouths as they try to escape the grasp of a power far greater than themselves.
Adria Peter
The Abyss Consciousness
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Steve Beverage
Grade 12
“sub·mers·i·ble- designed to be completely submerged or to operate while submerged.”
Hunter Souvannarath
My Hunger Consumes Me
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Steve Beverage
Grade 12
This piece was inspired by a dream I had a few months ago. How it started eludes me, but how it ended has stuck with me ever since. I was standing in front of a mirror, presumably in the bathroom. I lifted my shirt only to see how shriveled my intestines had become. They were shrinking, constricting themselves more and more by the second. Even in my sleep, I could feel my hunger pains.
Jayda Emerson
Desire of Flesh
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Brian McAllister
Grade 11
Visionary artists such as Alex Gray very much inspired my work. While I found myself both drawing and painting these two visionary lovers, it still remained difficult for me to connect with them as a gay woman. I was inspired to create this version that in which portrays two women in hopes to inspire and help others connect more with my work. For that reason, this piece holds a special place in my heart.
Lauren Martin
Street Food
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Brian McAllister
Grade 11
My work is a surreal take on an experience I once had – being delivered dead lizards by my cat while I was asleep. I was so interested in what he was thinking when he did it. So, I turned it into a digital illustration from his perspective. In the end, he turned out to be ordering some fried lizards from the local merchant to take home to me.
Samantha Neely
Internal Dialogue
Gibbs High School
Brian McAllister
Grade 11
The many different species of butterflies that live in my garden at home helped to inspire this work. Seeing them transform from tiny specks to flying insects has always intrigued me since I was a little girl. The metamorphosis symbolizes self-growth to me. The emergence of the butterfly from the chrysalis represents an ability to overcome even your darkest moments and become the person you were meant to be. It’s my desire to take that message to heart.
Aaron Pope
Finger Lickin’ Good
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Brian McAllister
Grade 11
I’m inspired by the grotesque side of art and wanted to incorporate grotesque aspects into the theme “Delusions, Desires, and Delicacies.” My piece uses gross hands, or rather fingers in juxtaposition to this theme. “Finger Lickin’ Good,” was used as the title for this piece to create a sarcastic portrayal of the gross fingers that the figures are surrounding. The figures and faces in the piece all revolve around these fingers with expressions of shock and hunger.
Henna Rogers
The Jester Unmasked
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Brian McAllister
Grade 12
I was inspired by canine mouths, teeth, and jester outfits from the middle ages. My method consisted of looking at many references of wolf mouths and digitally distorting them. I was left with abstract shapes which I interpreted into twisting flesh. This artwork is surrealist because it bends and distorts anatomy. Mouths open from nowhere, different kinds of teeth are growing in odd places, and the tongue is impossibly long.
Angelina Lopez
Fever Dream of Gold
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Stephanie McKee
Grade 10
For this piece I was inspired by the stories of “kelpies,” creatures that can shift into anything that their prey desires, all to lure them in. I wanted to make a kelpie that looked creepy.
This was surprisingly my second time using oil paint! My advice to other student artists is to treat every piece as if it’s going to go into a life changing show. Don’t be intimidated by a medium you’ve never used before!
Elise Tuttle
Gummies
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Stephanie McKee
Grade 10
For this piece I looked at sea slugs and anemones. The vibrant colors and subtle glow they give inspired me. I thought of how I could push the delusions aspect by putting a land animal underwater while still making it seem like it belonged. I connect with this artwork because it’s very whimsical and the whole atmosphere just seems very fun. I used acrylic and colored pencil. Lastly, I want to let the viewer know how strange and surreal the deep ocean already is and how much we still don’t know about it. For all we know, hippopotamus slugs could be out there.
Hazel Flanigan
Derailed
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Amber Quimby
Grade 9
The work is based on the feeling of losing time. I often get scared and angry at myself because I feel I’m losing opportunities every moment and still not doing enough. Not only is it about losing opportunities, but also having too many. This is very contrary but also very reflective of my internal worry. I used colored pencil when creating the face and acrylic paint for the dreary background.
Karla Gomez
Delusional
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Amber Quimby
Grade 9
Jaidyn Lentz
The Dream Race
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Amber Quimby
Grade 9
Alina Liashchova
Nightmare
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Amber Quimby
Grade 9
For my surrealism piece I wanted to create an eye-catching piece. I created an artwork that included a woman with snakes slithering out of her face. I was inspired by many of my dreams that involved snakes, both scary and peaceful. From making this piece I’ve found my style and learned that you have to trust the process and be patient when creating a work of art.
Malyssa Ollar
Tea for Two
(Forest Feast)
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Amber Quimby
Grade 9
“The title of this piece is ‘Tea for two’. The idea for this piece came from the ride The Haunted Mansion at Disneyworld. I was thinking of the scene where the ghosts are all having a feast and dancing below you while you glide over. I wanted to create the essence of something scary like ghosts, turned peaceful. Dreams do not always have to be scary, sometimes they are nice and sweet or funny. Ghosts do not always have to be scary either. I created this piece in mixed media, using watercolor, acrylic, gouache and ink.”
Marcus Rideout
Blinded
Gibbs High School
Teacher: Amber Quimby
Grade 9
Anh Ho
Tempted
Hollins High School
Teacher: Kristen Pineda
Grade 11
Jezabella Martinez
Kens Loose
Hollins High School
Teacher: Kristen Pineda
Grade 9
Maria Salcedo
An Unhealthy Mind
Lakewood High School
Teacher: Sandra Bourne
Grade 12
The balloon head is the person creating the image in their mind. I like to think of this female as a representation of myself. Her thoughts are making her depressed and anxious, as if they were creating a monster. This mythical being to the left of the balloon head appears to be melting. A mask is purposefully being taken off the skeleton and as a way to incorporate my desire to be slim and fit in with unrealistic beauty standards. I also tried to represent my own sense of illness and fragility within this piece. The so-called monster is holding the balloon as if the girl cannot escape her own thoughts. It is holding on and has control.
Emily Delucia
Dream Eater
Lakewood High School
Teacher: Jayce Ganchou
Grade 9
This fella was based off of the Hercules beetle and the anteater. I imagine he survives off a person’s good dreams, using his tongue to ‘fish’ them out from your head through your ear, leaving nightmares in its place. I suppose they might also change depending on the person. I tend to have nightmares about the ocean despite my love for it, but this is why I gave him bioluminescent kelp and bumps.
Xavier Sumner
Other World Dream Visionary
Lakewood High School
Jayce Ganchou
Grade 12
My piece, “Other World Dream Visionary,” is inspired by the surreal plane and space that our dreams are formed in. The exhibit theme had inspired me to create a piece that would express a creature from a warped future. The method I used to create this piece was modeling clay. I learned while making this piece that sculptures could be a projection of one’s dreams and visions. My piece is surreal because it represents a fear of time, and the vast emptiness when we sleep but do not dream.
Izabella Long
Desire To Heal
Largo High School
Teacher: Lisa Bagley
Grade 11
Alexa Allan
Calamari Crisis In The Bathtub
Largo High School
Teacher: Latonya Hicks
Grade 11
Rohan David
Freedom Sun
Largo High School
Teacher: Latonya Hicks
Grade 10
Tobias Bates
Penink
Northeast High School
Teacher: Kevin Olis
Grade 9
Gianna Gabor
Scrumptious Surprise
Osceola Fundamental High School
Teacher: Julianna Guccione
Grade 9
Isabel Mahoney
Tranquility & Cleansing
Osceola Fundamental High School
Teacher: Julianna Guccione
Grade 9
Sydney Rogers
Time Span
Osceola Fundamental High School
Teacher: Julianna Guccione
Grade 9
Aubrey Williams
Anxiety
Osceola Fundamental High School
Teacher: Julianna Guccione
Grade 9
Imesha Davis
Want
Palm Harbor University High School
Teacher: Wipoj Huse
Grade 12
My inspiration was that of unrealistic body standards that women have to deal with. The theme given theme made me think of words that you could say when describing a female. Many people, including myself want something that someone else has. No one is ever happy with everything that they have. I used the mediums of acrylic paint and ink on parchment paper and combined various symbols that I thought represented delicacy.
Camila Diaz
First Glance
Palm Harbor University High School
Teacher: Wipoj Huse
Grade 12
My main inspiration for this work comes from two men by the names of John Clowder and Jack King-Spooner. Their works have always meant so much to me personally. This project helped me become more experimental with my art and forced me to work outside of my boundaries. I feel as if this image I have created relates to the quote, “A weed may look like a flower. An idea may appear innocent at first glance.”
Sidney Meiers
Diamonds Are A Girls Best Friend
Palm Harbor University High School
Teacher: Wipoj Huse
Grade 12
I was inspired by Marilyn Monroe’s story and learned about her past. Dreams reminded me of the ideal female, and I also connected this with the idea of food and delicacies. I think that women are objectified daily. In response to this I created a work crafted with collage and mixed media. I used levitation, scale, and juxtaposition. Monroe selling her sexuality is represented with the meat body, while the snakes within this piece reference her alcoholism. I made diamonds as if they were gouging her eyes and the background is more drawings of the icon.
Garland Pelham
Garden Of Delusion
Palm Harbor University High School
Teacher: Wipoj Huse
Grade 12
This art piece allowed me to experiment with mixed medias and techniques that I normally wouldn’t pick. It was interesting to include pieces of magazines within the painting, as that is not usually my style. Once it was completed, I truly loved how the final product turned out.
Laney Reed
Jackpot
Palm Harbor University High School
Teacher: Wipoj Huse
Grade 9
This piece was inspired by my curiosity when it comes to gambling. The words ‘delusions’ and ‘desires’ from the given theme resonated with me. The dream of hitting the jackpot and living like royalty were the first things that came to mind. When creating this piece, I learned how to create art with new mediums that I had never experimented with before. I also learned a great amount about Surrealism, like distorting features and making a monster symbolize corruption all within a simple card game.
Wenjing Hu
Delusions Of You And Eye
Palm Harbor University High School
Teacher: Amanda Swisher
Grade 10
My work was inspired by issues caused by climate change. As the climate get progressively worse, people tend to have the delusion that everything will remain the same or get better eventually. I used outdoor scenery and a bright color pallet to convey the positives of protecting the environment. The individual objects are related to nature, and also remain open for interpretation. The main message of my work is to encourage people to become aware of the ‘eyes’ of nature are watching.
Dana Smith
Delusional Desires
Palm Harbor University High School
Teacher: Amanda Swisher
Grade 11
The work of Salvador Dalíis often a source of inspiration for my pieces. I genuinely admire the visual oddities of his artworks and I tried to use these techniques within my own. For this piece specifically, I chose a muted color palette in order to further convey the bleak sense of confusion present within the composition. Similar to Dalí’s work, this image contains various symbols that I have left for the views to decipher for themselves.
Nevaeh Palmer
Different Dimensions
Pinellas Park High School
Teacher: Kelly Kreps
Grade 11
I was inspired by theme desire, delusion, and delicacy. I knew instantly what I was going to do when I was looking through the magazines- it pieced itself together. I love this piece because it is one of the most interesting pieces I’ve made. I like all the different images and how they work together. I used collage methods for my surreal art to display how randomness can somehow make a pretty image.
Kaitlyn Thurman
Delicate Ocean
Pinellas Park High School
Teacher: Kelly Kreps
Grade 11
What inspired me was learning about the ocean in my marine class and hearing about the problem of ocean pollution. With the exhibit theme I’m able to speak out about it. One thing I learned while making this was that you can create a deep message using the surrealism techniques even if the art looks peculiar. Ocean pollution is a big problem that we need to work together on to fix.
Aanyah Youngblood
Estranged
Pinellas Park High School
Teacher: Kelly Kreps
Grade 9
I connected this artwork by finding the space ship, then went on from there to find the girls floating. I learned a lot about myself and how creative I am through using online resources. I want people to know that anything is possible.
Miranda Wenners
Shadowed Opportunity
Pinellas Park High School
Teacher: Dana Smalley
Grade 9
Zaedee Christie
Porcelain Shatters
Seminole High School
Teacher: Blaine Barden
Grade 12
The primary purpose of this art piece is to reflect the idea that the upper class, represented by the girl, has too much impact over society which more often than not affects a lot of working-class people in a negative way. In reference to the name, since porcelain is often associated with the rich, it seemed fitting to make it this porcelain girl.
Alexis Gniewosz
They Cook!
Seminole High School
Teacher: Blaine Barden
Grade 11
The story I am telling through this piece is thar the little creatures work for the chef, and that they help him out in his restaurant. I think this would fit in with the dreams, desires, and delicacies theme because of the fact that this piece takes place in a restaurant, where there’s currency like the gems in the piece and the food being carried away. I believe the dream-like quality and setting is what makes my piece surreal, along with the weird creatures and overall abstract appearance of the background.
Caitey Ahern
Golden Ticket Remix
Tarpon Springs High School
Teacher: Jessica Marmorale
Grade 12
When asked about the Willy Wonka spin on my piece, I wouldn’t exactly know how to respond. I focused more on the theme of the art show and what I knew related to it. In the image, I illustrated all the Wonka contestants’ demises with the corner of each separate scenario suggesting towards a figure with a hat. At first, most assume the mysterious character is Wonka himself when it’s actually Charlie (hinting that Charlie was the one behind all the contestant’s deaths). I used shading techniques with Copic Markers and ink pens as well as white gel pens for highlights. Each image is colorful yet eerie with certain dark tone colors being used repeatedly.
Sarah Burkart
Devine Delight
Tarpon Springs High School
Teacher: Jessica Marmorale
Grade 12
When I first learned of this year’s surrealist theme, my ideas initially ranged from food to sweets, but then it hit me: The Seven Deadly Sins. Yes, it was a big jump, but the merging of delusion and desire inspired me to pick one of the sins. So, I decided to create my own version of the body of lust. The piece displays lust as a beautiful woman, who, through her powers of delusion, inspires further feelings of desire in her victims.
Kailani Ryan
Athenas Vines
Tarpon Springs High School
Teacher: Jessica Marmorale
Grade 10
For my art piece, I was deeply inspired by the golden history of the greek goddess Athena. This art piece is especially important to me since it was actually centered around my sister, Katiana Ryan. Throughout her life, she has endured such gruesome battles and yet has overcome every single one. She inspires me because she is so courageous and wise and never fails to impress me, just like Athena.
Sierra Stone
Funeral Queen
Tarpon Springs High School
Teacher: Jessica Marmorale
Grade 11
I made the work based off a random word generator for an assignment for photography class. The words were: funeral, queen, distribution, and apple. So I first planned to have a casket and a queen’s portrait above it (it doesn’t look like a casket at all) to represent a funeral—with the baskets of apples on it to honor her. The #1 thing we had to include into the assignment was to make it surreal. I did the basics, putting eyeballs and mouths on the apples, some having limbs making their escapes from their original baskets. Also a minor detail I put in was the apple on the queen’s necklace, representing why apples were given for her funeral. She loved apples.
Noelle Topa
The Deal
Tarpon Springs High School
Teacher: Jessica Marmorale
Grade 12
How did the exhibit’s theme inspire you? Delusions, desires, and delicacies made me think about the combination of statues and sewing
How do you connect with this artwork? What makes this important to you? It was one of my first edits
What was your method in creating this work? Editing pictures from public domain websites together
What did you learn from creating this work? Art is subjective
What makes your work surreal? Which surrealist techniques did you use? Juxtaposition, displacement, and dislocation
What do you want the viewer to know? Expect the unexpected