YOUTH ART

A Celebration of Creativity: Recapping Our Youth Art Exhibition

This past spring, The Sheboygan Collective proudly hosted our spring Youth Art Exhibition, a three-day celebration of creativity, growth, and the incredible imagination of our youngest artists. With doors open to the public on Saturday, April 5th and Sunday, April 6th, we welcomed visitors of all ages to view an inspiring collection of student work, participate in hands-on collage and jellyfish-making projects, and experience firsthand the power of youth-driven creativity.

The exhibition officially kicked off with a Youth Artist Reception on Friday evening, where families, friends, and supporters gathered to celebrate the artists and their accomplishments. We are incredibly grateful to our friends at Paradigm Coffee + Music for hosting this special event in their warm and welcoming space.

One of the most meaningful moments of the evening came from a conversation with one of our youth artists, who had created a stunning three-dimensional papier-mâché turtle. She shared the challenges she faced in developing her concept—how hard it was to figure out exactly what she wanted to build and how to bring it to life. Artists were given only basic supplies: cardboard, newspaper, hot glue, and tape. The project was intentionally open-ended, encouraging students to take full ownership of their creative process.

As her teacher, I’m there to help think through ideas or offer technical guidance—but the work, the vision, and the decision-making are all theirs. When I asked if she felt proud of her completed piece, everything in her shifted. A huge smile broke across her face, and she said, simply, yes.

That moment speaks to what this work is truly about.

Through these projects, our youth artists learn to conceptualize, problem-solve, adapt, and persevere. They get to experience the magic of creating something beautiful out of simple materials—and the pride of knowing that it came from within them.

To everyone who joined us for this celebration—thank you. Your presence helps affirm that their work matters, and that their voices and creativity are valued.

We can’t wait to see what they dream up next.

Stay tuned for more opportunities to support and celebrate youth art through upcoming programs, exhibitions, and open studios at The Sheboygan Collective.