Young Arts is an organization that selects The Most Accomplished Artists, Ages 15-18, from Across the United States Honored for Excellence in Visual, Literary and Performing Arts. The winners of young arts are chosen through a highly competitive application, which is reviewed by a panel of esteemed, discipline-specific artists. It is a rigorous (blind) adjudication process. 2025 young arts award winners join a distinguished community of artists. They are offered creative and professional development support throughout their careers as artists. Young arts is a lifetime award given to around 700-800 students in the United States every year.
For my young arts application, I submitted a body of work I created in the summer of 2024 called “Established.” The series of 10 images dives into the wonderful people behind the most loved, well-known classic establishments across New York city. This is the body of work that resulted in being chosen as young arts 2025 winners.
To View the entire body of work, visit the link below:
two photographs from the body of work “Established."view the full body of work “reclaimed” here“not yours to touch”
This image is a part of a body of work titled "Reclaimed" which was a project based around the reclaiming of the female body. How can we reclaim the female body? Something that has been taken from us for years. Something that for some reason feels so scary to reclaim. In doing this project, I not only wanted to portray the idea of reclaiming the female body but also embracing the body we are given regardless of its imperfections and whatnot. I wanted to show it in a way that was sensual but not sexual. I want those who see it to get uncomfortable, just as the sexualization of the body has made every woman uncomfortable at one point or another. Embrace the discomfort. These photos are not to show anything off, they are not for people to sexualize. It is for myself and everyone else to help embrace their bodies and hopefully reclaim their own body for themselves. the gold key is a prestigious, first place award that goes to 5-7% of regional submissions. This award was won in the 2025 Scholastic art and writing awards.
“SOLITUDE SUBWAY”
Rides on the subway, whether long or short are a time of solitude. It is the time to think, to reflect, and to get lost in our minds. Surrounded by others doing the same, we exist in this world of thought. This image was taken over the summer, of a man on the subway who seemed to be enjoying this sacred time on the subway. We will never know what this man is thinking about, where he is coming from or where he is going, and that is the beauty of this shared space and our coexistence within it. the gold key is a prestigious, first place award that goes to 5-7% of regional submissions. This award was won in the 2025 Scholastic art and writing awards.
“what are you looking at?”
What Are You Looking At? This is the constant message in the look everybody knows well, and one that is very common within childhood (I have made the face before myself, I cannot lie). When we are young, we are also figuring out our place among the millions and millions of people who surround us, living a life of their own. This image shows the age where all we do is explore, and question anyone who says we should be doing anything else. the gold key is a prestigious, first place award that goes to 5-7% of regional submissions. This award was won in the 2025 Scholastic art and writing awards.
“smoke break”
Working in a restaurant is not easy work. You're up early, and awake late. You are making sure your customers are satisfied and their needs are being fulfilled before yours are. This photo captures the moment away from the craziness of the service industry. The moment where the host and the waiter are able to finally breathe and enjoy a cigarette before their next shift begins and they are back to the craziness. the gold key is a prestigious, first place award that goes to 5-7% of regional submissions. This award was won in the 2025 Scholastic art and writing awards.
“untitled”
This image was taken using a large seamless that was set up outside, and light simply from the California sun. With emphasis on the turns and folds of fashion, this image is meant to have a strong contrast often achieved using studio lighting and strobes. This unique approach of using natural light makes the image have a one of a kind type of lighting due to the ever-changing position of the sun during the 24 hour day cycle. the silver key is a prestigious, second place award that goes to 7-10% of regional submissions. This award was won in the 2025 Scholastic art and writing awards.
“the watcher”
This image was taken on the Coney Island pier. The subject, a young boy is watching over Coney Island. When we are young, our mind races with ideas, our imagination radiating across every aspect thinkable. We take everything we can in, hoping to gain something from it. "The Watcher" shows the experience of childhood observation, the moment of our lives where nothing matters except for all that fascinates you. the silver key is a prestigious, second place award that goes to 7-10% of regional submissions. This award was won in the 2025 Scholastic art and writing awards.
“afteroon stroll”
Afternoon strolls are some of the most therapeutic times of the day. A therapeutic stroll through one of the most beautiful cities (Paris) in Europe is one of the most freeing things. Even on a not to bright day, one can recognize the serenity and peace that is this moment. the silver key is a prestigious, second place award that goes to 7-10% of regional submissions. This award was won in the 2025 Scholastic art and writing awards.
“Youth Within Memory”
This image was taken during a service trip to a local assisted living home. The particular subject I photographed was residing in the memory care part of the community. When I was photographing her, a youthfulness and life to her came out that was not there when I first met her. There is something so raw and beautiful about aging -- it shows that we have lived life, and I wanted to show that. This image is part of a 7 image body of work that features other residents living in memory care. the gold key is a prestigious, first place award that goes to 5-7% of regional submissions. This award was won in the 2024 Scholastic art and writing awards.
“You Don't Know How To Love Me”
This image is the sixth out of a 14 image body of work that was produced summer of 2023. What is the meaning of love? What is the meaning of a healthy relationship? What one sees as a healthy or unhealthy relationship can vary drastically from another’s. When looking at my body of work, I don’t want the emotions to be 100% apparent. The viewer is meant to look at the images and write their own narrative on what the meaning is. Honorable Mentions are given to work recognized: with 10-15% of regional submissions awarded. This award was won in the 2024 Scholastic art and writing awards.