The 2025 Superintendent's Gallery exhibition showcases the outstanding skill and creativity of our comprehensive, culturally responsive curriculum, demonstrating the powerful impact of a sequential program in art education. The breadth of the county schools’ art program is highlighted by a variety of two- and three-dimensional artworks, including sculpture, photography, drawing, painting, and digital art.
The virtual exhibition consists of over 280 student artworks from BCPS schools with 24 selected artworks on display in the Superintendent’s Gallery at Greenwood Building A, 6901 Charles Street, Towson, Maryland, 21204. The selected artworks may be viewed on location between the hours of 9:00am and 4:30pm, through February 27, 2026. Congratulations to our student artists in this spectacular exhibition, and we look forward to seeing more student artwork in upcoming showcases!
Thomas B.
My self-portrait titled, “Toman” was made using charcoal materials, as well as chalk to get lighter values. At first, I was not extremely familiar with charcoal but by the end I actually enjoyed it. In this piece, my background is a whiteboard that I have in my room. One of the drawings in the background I actually drew with my friend when he came over. This represents the love for my friends as well as my love for art. This also leads to the reason I named my piece “Toman.” A group of my friends at school call me Toman. It has stuck since 7th grade. Considering my friends call me Toman and this piece includes a drawing that I did with my friend, I thought it would be a good name for my self-portrait. All in all, I had a fun time with this piece, and I am very proud of it.
Lillian C.
The portrait I made consisted of my dad and older sister from when my dad took a picture with all three of us while we were out night fishing. the picture is meant to give the feeling of joy and family bonding while I used charcoal to blend and create value within the artwork, One thing I wished I had done when drawing out the value and blending was looking at the picture half way through I Had noted that I made my siters jacket black instead of white because I was not looking at the photo, If I could go back I would fix that and my sisters whole face which was made poorly. I enjoyed creating the value of the background having to crop out small bites I also enjoy making myself but would wish I could go back to fix my dad’s eyes.
Alison L.
Books have been a big part of my life since 4th grade. For my dream house project, I decided to express how reading books makes me feel. My goal was to create a castle that reflects what a book feels like to me. I showcased the romance side of my books through the foreground flowers using contrasting and warm colors. The soft colors of the sky represent the light and happy parts of a book. The trees represent darker moments that I compared to dystopian novels. Here, the trees cover the background similar to an author only telling you want they want you to see. The castle itself has many specific details that you may not notice at first, like when you don’t notice details in a book until the second time around. The details I added are like characters, and variations in colors express their different emotions. Overall, this piece embraces the feel of a fairytale and what it’s like to be “Between the Pages”.
Jahayra C. D.
This piece investigates the beauty of nature, a theme inspired by blooming flowers. I was influenced by the shape of a rose, which led me to make a cup that looks like a blossom. To develop this work, I experimented with making wavy edges look like petals. I used a bright grapefruit glaze to strengthen the feeling of a garden. The small rose on the handle adds a special finishing touch to the design. The work is intended to show that everyday things can be beautiful art. Through this piece, I invite the viewer to think about the pretty flowers they see outside.
Miranda B.
The main idea of my artwork is my house. I used slab clay building techniques. I rolled a slab of clay using a rolling pin and rolling sticks. I chose to use specific colors to represent the house that I was raised in. I added a little brick spot for picnics. I want the viewer to notice how I used triangles for the porch and the arched doorway. I enjoyed working with clay. It was fun.
Esha B.
D'ziyre W.
The stories of Brer Rabbit originate from African American culture and were a powerful tool for enslaved people to survive, resist, and preserve their identity during slavery. These stories embody resilience, cleverness, and the strength of community. In this piece, I portray two children inside a protective circle, sharing the story of Brer Rabbit. Outside the circle are a fox and a bear – symbols of danger and oppression – trying to break through. Surrounding the children are ribbons representing their African ancestors, who stand as guardians, protecting them from harm and preserving the legacy of their culture. My vision is to highlight the importance of ancestral protection and cultural survival. The circle represents a safe space where history, stories, and identity are safeguarded against outside threats. Through this work, I reclaim and honor the true spirit of these stories, reminding us that our heritage and resilience continue to guard and guide us.
Nathaniel A.
I made this artwork to help pets in need of shelter and care. I created this art by using oil pastels. I layered colors and created textures. My goal was to get the right perspective of the cat and make it look realistic. During the process it was challenging to make it look like the cat had a full body and not just a face. I overcame this challenge by practicing the body in my sketchbook multiple times so that I wouldn’t mess it up on the real paper. Overall, I really liked this artwork. It was a challenge, but it was fun!
Jebediah E.
The goal for my artwork was to create an artwork that reflected an aspect of my identity. My sculpture represents my old dog, Oktober. I decided to make this piece about him because he was a very special part of my life and having him taken from me three years ago was extremely difficult. This sculpture allowed me to express that sense of love and loss, making it a deeply personal part of my identity. My sculpture is made from paper, aluminum foil, and plaster gauze. The first step in the creative process was brainstorming different aspects of my identity to decide what felt most meaningful to represent. We looked at artists such as Cindy Sherman and Frida Kahlo and I looked at the artwork of Jeff Koons (for the sculptural aspect) for inspiration. After some reflection, I realized that creating something to honor my old dog Oktober was the right choice. I found a reference photo of a dog similar to him; a dog sitting with its head slightly tilted down, as if looking sad. Using this image, I began to break the form down into smaller, more manageable shapes that I could build out of paper and foil. I started first with the dog’s head, shaping it carefully with balled-up paper and aluminum foil. Once I finished the head, I began constructing the body. At one point, I wanted to stop and just make the head because I felt overwhelmed by the challenge of building the whole body, but my teacher encouraged me to keep going, reminding me that I was capable of completing it. To make it easier, I built the body in sections; the main part of the dog’s body, then the legs, and the tail and then hot glued all the parts together, including the head. Once my armature was complete, I covered the entire armature with plaster gauze strips that I had to dip in warm water and smooth out with my fingers to create a smooth and solid surface for painting. After the plaster dried, I used acrylic paint to bring color and life to the sculpture. I painted the dog a dark gray with a lighter gray chest, just as I remember Oktober. I also included a blue dog collar since that is my favorite color and that was also the color of his actual collar when he lived with me. To make the face of my dog sculpture more realistic, I printed out an image of dog eyes in color and attached them using Mod Podge. For the final details, I painted the nose and the nails on the paws. I chose to display the sculpture sitting on a small blanket to give it a sense of comfort and warmth and wanted the blanket to be color that worked well with the color of the dog’s fur so that it didn’t distract from my artwork. This sculpture will always be special to me because it represents Oktober, a dog I loved deeply and still think about often. Taking it home feels like bringing a part of him back with me. It’s more than just an artwork; it’s a memory and a reminder of the bond we shared.
Maryam A.
My inspiration for making this painting was the idea of glamorous horror. Snakes are a universal fear inspiring image. They symbolize evil across all parts of history and culture. In wrapping the snakes around the portrait of a woman, it is unclear whether they are threatening her or if she is controlling them. The image references women across time, like Medusa, who have been stigmatized and feared for their beauty and power. Her eyes burn with her glory and power. I wanted the viewer to feel fear and awe all at once. In making this, my process included gathering portrait references of myself to create a realistic arrangement of light and shadow. I used image editing to layer snakes on top of my portrait and test different color options for the composition. I used both teal and gold for the snakes to create duality and complexity in the snakes’ symbolism. My base layer of paint was acrylic. I used oil paint in top to glaze layers of different values and increase realism. As the painting evolved, I realized I didn’t want people to feel fear anymore when they looked at my work. Instead, I wanted them to be immersed in the riveting realism of the portrait and snakes. I wanted them to notice how strong the light source was, how bright her eyes were, and how the details pulled them in. I added gold to her hair so it could reflect on one of the snakes, giving the whole piece more life. In the beginning, I wanted it to look exactly like me, but I eventually found it more powerful to change a few features to make it even more realistic. I kept some of my own traits because I still wanted to feel connected to the painting, as if a part of me lived inside it. I love my theme, and I love that I was able to keep the creepy atmosphere but in a way that’s less frightening and more captivating. I wanted viewers to feel a mix of curiosity, beauty, and wonder, and I’m proud of how it all came together.
David W.
My artwork shows a Labubu getting ready to jump into a pool after lounging by the pool. She has a cup in her hand to take a quick drink of water because she is thirsty. I made this by drawing a Labubu and the pool area in pencil, outlined with sharpie, added color with crayon and added decorative materials. I used purple for my Labubu because she is a girl and blue to show the water. I made squares on the pool wall in rainbow colors. My artwork makes me feel happy because I like swimming and I want people to feel happy too.
Lillian M.
This work is intended to communicate an awareness of light and dark, or warm and cool, as the candle illuminates the figure. It is meant to represent curiosity, clear by the title of the piece. I wanted the subject to be looking at the flame in a sort of fascinated daze, representing the feeling of discovery and revelation. I used colored pencils to slowly build up a range of color and value.
Ellie S.
I wanted the viewer to feel like someone was holding out their hands spelling something right in front of them. My ASL hands show my initials, ELS. I used blending to shade my hand. I added bracelets to give it a real-life touch. The main idea of my artwork is that people anywhere can learn to sign ASL.
Dayra B.
Henry D.
I chose to use graphite pencil for my self-portrait because it is a medium I am very comfortable with. I use it a lot for sketching, which is my primary art style. I also love to include a lot of detail in my pieces, which is part of the reason I chose to make my background the Italian square. My dad is Italian as well, meaning I have Italian heritage, which inspired me to choose the background that I drew. Finally, the clothes that I am wearing in my portrait were chosen because I am a big Liverpool fan.
Evane E.
The main idea of my art piece is to display human facial features. I chose to use a pencil and colored pencils because I can blend in more and recreate excellent shading techniques. I used blue, tan, black, brown, and pink to make it stand out. I want the viewer to notice the small detail and to feel happy and proud of the artist.
Lorie C.
This piece, “Unraveled”, conveys themes inspired by the struggle of trying to keep up with cultural expectations and the feelings behind that pressure. Influenced by personal experience and a desire to express my own problems, I chose to create this piece where my feelings of fear and exhaustion could be seen. The development of this work involved the experimentation of different mixed media including yarn and other materials such as paint and ink. Specific elements I focused on the most were its color and symbolism, especially the way it symbolized my culture as a Chinese American through things like the traditional clothing and the makeup done on the mask made of yarn. This work is intended to communicate how I felt trapped when trying to excel in knowing all there is to Chinese culture, eventually unraveling and showing that I couldn’t live up to those standards. Through this piece, I invite the viewer to understand that expectations, no matter what they are, shouldn’t force you to conform to some standard.
Zoey S.
Imani J.
I made an octopus with my clay because when I was like 6 or 7 years old, I used to love them. When I heard that we could make anything including animals I thought of an octopus. I made it out of clay, and I made clay coils to make the legs, and I used a tool to make the dots on the leg. I chose red and blue glaze to make the octopus stand out. This project took more time than I expected to sculpt every piece, but I am happy with how it turned out.
Prekindergarten
Kindergarten
Grade 1
Grade 2
"Narrative Art: Inspired by the book The Day the Crayons Quit" by Ellie F. at Victory Villa Elementary School, Grade 2
Grade 3
Grade 4
Grade 5
Grade 6
Grade 7
Grade 8
Grade 9
Grade 10
Grade 11
Grade 12
Thank you for taking the time to view this exhibition! Again, we would like to congratulate the outstanding artists who participated in this exhibit and look forward to seeing the incredible skills and student voices in future artworks!
The Superintendent’s Gallery launched in the Spring of 2021, builds on the long history of exhibitions of student artwork at the Greenwood Administration Building. This community space honors this legacy of student artistic voice and the legacy of leadership in BCPS. The Superintendent’s Gallery features rotating exhibitions of student artwork accompanied by a virtual gallery, linked to from the Office of Visual Arts Website. We encourage you to visit the Visual Arts Gallery Website to view many other exhibitions from our schools.