Young artists at heart
I think of my art as my voice. It's what I have to say about the world I live in, and it's about who I am and what I would like things to be.
— Faith Ringgold
On January 29, we gathered on a chilly Miami evening at the historic YoungArts campus.
Beginning with a tour of the 2026 National YoungArts Week exhibit in Design, Photography, and Visual Arts, curated by Commissioner’s Dejha Carrington, we entered the space as neighbors, ready to witness a “day in the life of…”
On the first floor of the Frank Gehry-designed gallery, charcoal drawings by Kameirah Johnson and photography by Jasmin Arreola provided intimate glimpses into domesticity and rest. Transitioning from the home to the outside world, paintings by Mara Popa and Jordyn Williams depicted the everyday rituals of subways and transit. Artists like Nate Barcot and Jane Liou then invited us into the vibrant atmosphere of bodegas, markets, and restaurants, centering our diverse diasporic connections through food with their installations, sculptures, and two-dimensional works.
On the second floor, our exploration of interiority continued, this time with a tender focus on the inner self, nature, and adornment. For example, photographers Christopher Barker, Isabel Bhatia, and Jericca Taste raised questions about legibility and opacity, intentionally using lighting, collage, and gesture to obfuscate the viewer's gaze—a deliberate ambiguity.
In contrast, Ryan Chou and Isabella Cho approached the theme of visibility from a functional perspective, designing solutions that enhance access and readability for visually impaired individuals. Their practices highlight the importance of clarity, creating a dialogue between the artistic exploration of what is seen and unseen and the practical necessity of making visual experiences accessible to all.
Ecology, mutualism, and healing were shared themes among several of the participating artists—all YoungArts award winners ages 15–18—who are experiencing and future-building a planet in crisis. And yet, the exhibition feels hopeful as they navigate complexities with remarkable tenderness and maturity. Simple joys and anticipatory grief coexist. Somewhere between grounding in the present and creating the future, there’s an urgency to wrestle with the past—to be honest and attuned in our retelling.
With this spirit, we moved from the gallery to the iconic Jewel Box for figure drawing sessions with Raw Figs and Tito’s Handmade Vodka. As models posed, viewers became artists—each exploring our own interpretations of interiority inspired by the show. Here, our drawings captured rich expressions of play, leisure, and those quiet moments when it feels like no one is watching.
Overwhelming thanks to Tito’s Handmade Vodka for supporting this program, and to our mixologists Rico and Angela. Thank you to Zayra Campos, Natalie Padro, Dave Adams, Gary Blake, Ty Taylor, and the entire YoungArts team for making our night extra special. Brian Butler of Raw Figs and Commissioner team members Gregory Pierre-Louis and Natalia Guzman are the hosts with the most. As always, deep gratitude to all the artists and members for co-creating this space of reflection.
2026 National YoungArts Week Exhibition
On view through February 23, 2026
YoungArts Gallery
2100 Biscayne Blvd., Edgewater
Appointment recommended by emailing zcampos@youngarts.org
Download the anthology and catalogue.
