The program is the museum’s longest continuous running relationship with an educational organization

April 13, 2022 (Detroit)—Hundreds of imaginative works created by Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) students will be on display in the 85th annual Detroit Public Schools Community District Student Exhibition, presented by the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). The exhibition, on view April 23 through May 29, is free and will be held on the first floor in the Wayne and Joan Webber Education Wing.

The partnership between the DIA and the Detroit public schools is the longest standing continuous relationship the museum has with an educational organization. Many of the students whose works have been featured in the exhibition have gone on to pursue successful careers in the arts, including, among others, Tracy Reese, a New York-based fashion designer who has dressed the likes of former First Lady Michelle Obama, and Mario Moore, a New York-based contemporary painter whose works have been shown in exhibitions across the country and are in the collection of the DIA.

“We are excited to have the DPSCD show back in the museum after two years of virtual shows. We are excited to present this special showcase of the talents of the students at DPSCD,” said Salvador Salort-Pons, Director of the Detroit Institute of Arts. “The display of this year’s creativity may include work by a future professional artist or designer, and we invite the community to celebrate these emerging artists.”

Students from 62 schools in grades K–12 submitted ceramics, collages, drawings, videos, textiles, jewelry, paintings, photography, prints, sculpture, and other works to a jury of local artists, retired DPSCD educators and DIA staff, which selected the over 200 pieces included in the show. The number of participating schools has increased by more than 40 over the past five years.

Every year some entries are featured on exhibition promotional materials. This year’s selections are:

• “Broken Promise,” Maria Garita, Academy of the Americas
• “Nightmare,” Jose Camarena, Academy of the Americas
• “Sunflower,” Mariana Palafox, Academy of the Americas
• “Unusual Berengerl,” Francisca Caballero-Alvarado, Academy of the Americas
• “The Magical Eye,” Evelyn Juarez, Academy of the Americas
• “An Inspiration of Life Through Colors,” Briana Jarquin Lopez, Academy of the Americas
• “The Ancient,” Jessica Orozco-Aguilar, Academy of the Americas
• “Tiger,” Morgan McDonald, Bates Academy
• “Wringing the Essence,” Donnavin Jones, Cass Technical High School
• “Abuelita Tan Dulce Com el Chocolate,” Mayte Cervantes, Cass Technical High School
• “Self-Portrait,” Mavell Elliot, Denby High School
• “Self-Portrait,” Jeffrey Montgomery, Denby High School
• “Self-Portrait,” Merced Lowe, Denby High School
• “Mother Earth,” Isyss Christerfield, Detroit School of Arts
• “Afterschool Special,” Chrishani Pleasant, Mumford High School
• “Faith,” Davona Boyd, Mumford High School
• “Light in My Darkness: A Self Portrait,” Kenneth Collins, Mumford High School
• “All in my Head,” Chrishani Pleasant, Mumford High School
• “Rear Windows,” India Hudson, Mumford High School
• “Voids,” TaShayla Coward, Osborn High School
• “Thompson Gazelle,” Steven Lopez-Chavez, Priest Elementary-Middle School
• “The Artist in the Room,” Yonatan Lopez-Romero, Priest Elementary-Middle School
• “Love,” Kyrin Brantley, Priest Elementary-Middle School
• Stop Animation  Video, Daniel Bustamante-Vazquez, Western International High School
• Stop Animation  Video, Franchesca Reyes, Western International High School

About Detroit Public Schools Community District       

Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) is Michigan’s largest public education system. It is governed by a locally elected, seven-member board with Dr. Nikolai Vitti serving as superintendent. The District’s mission is to provide every student with a beneficial and rightful educational experience, preparing students to be career and college ready, and qualified to compete in the global market. The District has more than 100 schools and educates more than 49,000 children. For more information, visit www.detroitk12.org (opens in new window) and follow @detroitk12 on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.   

The 85th Detroit Public Schools Community District Student Exhibition is organized by the Detroit Institute of Arts and the Detroit Public Schools Community District.  This exhibition is made possible by the generous support of the Ruth T.T. Cattell Education Endowment Fund.

The Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), one of the premier art museums in the United States, is home to more than 60,000 works that comprise a multicultural survey of human creativity from ancient times through the 21st century. From the first Van Gogh painting to enter a U.S. museum (Self-Portrait, 1887), to Diego Rivera's world-renowned Detroit Industry murals (1932–33), the DIA’s collection is known for its quality, range and depth. The DIA’s mission is to create opportunities for all visitors to find personal meaning in art.

Programs are made possible with support from residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.