Upper School Students Showcase Artistic Prowess in Suffolk Art League's Exhibit of Excellence

The talent of NSA's visual artists is truly highlighted at the Suffolk Art League's annual Exhibit of Excellence, where creations from Saints account for more than 40 percent of the featured work.

Students at Suffolk high schools in grades 9 through 12 are eligible to enter the annual juried exhibit. This year, 200 entries were submitted, and 88 were selected for the show. 38 of those pieces were from NSA students. 

Artist and educator Christina Rupsch served as this year's juror. She selected all of the artwork for the exhibit and awarded prizes to 17 pieces. NSA won four of those awards.

Isabella Burton '25 won third place for her piece, titled "Wheels on the Canvas." Jossy Byars '26 and Madison Goodwin '27 received honorable mentions, and Ethan Hicks '25 was selected for a juror's choice award.

"This year, remarkable talent was demonstrated through a high level of craftsmanship, presentation, creative use of various design elements and a wide variety of materials and concept developments," said Christina in her juror's statement. "An example of this is 'Wheels on the Canvas' by Isabella Burton from Nansemond-Suffolk Academy, with her clever choices of materials, an actual tire!"

The Exhibit of Excellence: Suffolk Student Art will be on display at the Suffolk Art Gallery at 118 Bosley Ave. through March 1. Gallery hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The gallery is free and open to the public. For more information about this and other programs offered by the Suffolk Art League, contact the league office at 757-925-0448, the Suffolk Art Gallery at 757-514-7284 or visit suffolkartleague.com.