iCreate 2025: Annual Juried Exhibition of High School Talent
June 8, 2025—September 7, 2025, Vicki Netter Fitzgerald Gallery
The Bruce Museum proudly presents iCreate 2025, our annual juried exhibition showcasing exceptional artistic talent from high school students across the region. Now in its 17th year, this celebrated exhibition transforms our gallery into a vibrant showcase of emerging creativity, featuring works selected from hundreds of submissions representing dozens of schools throughout Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.
Support for iCreate 2025 is generously provided by the CT Department of Economic and Community Development, CT Humanities, the Charles M. and Deborah G. Royce Exhibition Fund, an anonymous donor, Debbie Simon, and Lily deJongh Downing and David Yudain.
Lilly Messina
New Canaan High School, Grade 12
My Name’s Sake
Colored ink on paper
16.5 x 12.5 inches
A Diverse Artistic Landscape
Visitors will encounter a stunning array of artistic expressions spanning multiple media—from painting, drawing, and photography to printmaking, digital art, and mixed media. The juried selected works reflect the diverse perspectives, concerns, and artistic approaches of today's youth, often addressing themes of identity, social justice, environmental awareness, and personal transformation.
What makes iCreate particularly compelling is its authentic representation of contemporary youth culture through the unfiltered lens of those experiencing it firsthand. Each piece offers insight into the thoughts, emotions, and worldviews of a new generation of creative thinkers.
Curated by Youth, for Everyone
A distinctive feature of iCreate is its organization by the museum's high school interns, who participate in a rigorous six-week internship program. These dedicated young professionals gain valuable experience in exhibition design, art handling, and museum operations while helping to shape how their peers' work is presented to the public.
Community Impact: Vote for the People's Choice Award
Make your voice heard! Participate in our annual People's Choice Award by casting your vote for your favorite artist. Your selection helps crown this year's winner and celebrates the work that resonates most with our audience.
Watch the exhibition video below to explore this year's featured artists and their incredible work.
People's Choice Award
We invite you to engage with the power of democracy in art. Each participating student's art is showcased in the iCreate 2025 presentation video, accompanied by music by Matteo Sohn, a student at Scarsdale High School, Grade 12. You, the people, may vote for your favorite artist. As you explore the gallery and the video, we encourage you to consider the diverse voices and perspectives in these works.
By sharing your thoughts, feelings, and reactions, you contribute to the ongoing dialogue surrounding art and its role in society. Your email is confidential and intended solely for voting in the iCreate 2025 People's Choice Award. The award winner will be announced on August 24, 2024.
Please view the iCreate 2025 Participant video below, and Vote!
Recognition of Excellence
To honor outstanding artistic achievement, iCreate 2025 presented several juried awards:
First Place Award
Ana Topirceanu
Homeschooled, Grade 11
Self-Portrait
Graphite and pencil on paper
20 x 12 inches
Second Place Award
Rainer Kusama-Hinte
High School of Art and Design, Grade 11
A Portrait of Layla
Oil on canvas
22 x 28 inches
Third Place Award
Matthew Carrea
Harrison High School, Grade 11
Rolling Meadows
Oil on canvas
24 x 36 inches
Youth at Bruce Award
Caitlin Yoon
Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest
Grade 10
Fragile Sanctuary
Acrylic on canvas
18 x 24 inches
Honorable Mentions
Hailey Park
Academy of Holy Angels, Grade 11
Woven Moments of Love
Acrylic on canvas
18 x 24 inches
Aryn Ryu
Bergen County High School, Grade 10
Flight Paths
Acrylic on canvas
26 x 24 inches
Brody Park
Academy of the Holy Angels, Grade 9
Together in Harmony
Acrylic on canvas
11 x 17 inches
