P S Art 2016 Exhibition Schedule www.nyc.gov/schools/artseducation

Faces of Youth
Cyra Cupid
Grade: 11
School: Brooklyn High
School of the Arts
Art Teacher: Lara Hill
Acrylic on canvas board
STUDENT: As a member of
a minority I have often
felt that I don’t matter,
but art has given me
a voice. In my current
work I want to break
stereotypes and expose
my unique people and
culture particularly from
the perspective of my
generation. Before high
school I didn’t take art
seriously; it was just
something I was good
at. Now as a junior, art
is more than a class; it’s
a way of life. Ms. Hill
has helped open doors
to new opportunities
and connected me
with other artists. She pushes me
to succeed in my craft, making my
passion for the arts stronger. I worked
to create a balance between keeping
it simple so as not to distract from
the subject, and making sure the
artwork remained vibrant to pull in
the viewer’s interest.
TEACHER: Faces of Youth was created in
an advanced art class where students
are working on developing portfolios
that reflect their personal style. After
a trip to see a Kehinde Wiley exhibit,
Cyra became obsessed with painting
portraits. She has experimented with
a variety of painting styles over the
past year, but she has consistently
focused on portrait images of her
peers. In this piece she is painting
with the masterly style of Kehinde
Wiley, as well as the stylization of
Tamara De Lempicka.
In all of Cyra’s portraits she is
interested in challenging stereotypes
of youth and race. In Faces of Youth
she creates a powerful portrait of her
fellow art student. Cyra’s command of
the medium, light, and representation
of subject matter is outstanding in
this powerful piece.
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