By: Natalia Kao
The International Art Museum of America (IAMA) in San Francisco began its 2024 International Youth Art Contest and Exhibition, featuring over 400 outstanding works by artists aged 7 to 18 from nine countries. The artworks will be exhibited in the museum’s 10,000 sqft Grand Exhibition Hall from July 13 to 21. An award ceremony attended by close to 300 people was held on July 14 at its Garden Hall. The high quality of the artworks and the excitement of the young artists and their families were palpable. As one of the parents put it, “It was incredible to think that my nine-year-old daughter’s artwork is being exhibited in the same museum as that of world-famous art masters!”
Located in the heart of San Francisco, IAMA was voted the “Best Art Gallery” and was a finalist as the “Best Museum” of the Bay Area 2024 by SFGate. IAMA strives to make art appreciation and education accessible, believing “Art is for everyone.” The International Youth Art Contest is held yearly as part of IAMA’s International Art Forum. The President of the Museum, Mr. KC Hsieh, accompanied by members of the Museum’s board; the Chairman of the Jury Committee, Professor Adam Caldwell of San Francisco Academy of Art University; and honored guests, jointly held the award presentation on July 14.
Chairman of Jury Committee Professor Caldwell congratulating all at the award ceremony while 300 people attended / Photo Courtesy: John Trieu
Dr. Amy Hughes, a Jury Committee member and Director of Student Services at the New York Academy of Art, remarked on the participants’ impressive usage of various techniques and styles. For example, “The piece ‘Roman Relief’ by Aviva Zhilin Wang, the first-place winner, is one of the many that jumps out,” she commented. “I work at a graduate school, and we see these kinds of drawings in our graduate program.” Professor Adam Caldwell congratulated all the contestants at the Awards Ceremony, saying, “The important thing is celebrating here–the paintings are all amazing!”
Sanchita Devnath, a 13-year-old Honorable Mention receiver, sharing her life experiences through her artwork / Photo Courtesy: John Trieu
The young artists responded enthusiastically to Professor Caldwell’s afternoon Master Class on painting. These young artists’ active involvement was inspiring! Sanchita Devnath, a 13-year-old Honorable Mention receiver, explained, “In this piece (“Not Enough”), I painted my relations to food and body image. In the past, I looked at myself; I would yell, ‘You’re not good enough!’. Through this painting, I want to tell everyone that ‘You are good enough’ and ‘You are not alone.” As another Judge, Dr. Gabriel Sotomayor, commented on this artwork, “The level of introspection…[is] something really powerful to capture in this medium, at this age group.”
More than 400 amazing artworks by young artists from 9 countries on exhibit at IAMA Grand Exhibition Hall / Photo Courtesy: John Trieu
“I feel more motivated to continue exploring and expressing my artistic vision. I wish to continue pushing the boundaries of my creativity even further,” said Emily Su, third-place winner in the 15-17 age bracket. “My goal is to inspire and mentor new artists, helping them to navigate their own creative paths and find their unique voices in the art world.” IAMA is here to provide a stage and bring international art talents together, nourishing and encouraging young artists to pursue their passion for art and exercise their leadership in the art world. IAMA’s mission is to bring peace and happiness to all through art, especially for the new generation’s benefit, well-being, and growth.
For the complete winning list, please visit http://iama-youth-art-contest.com or call (415) 376-6344.
Published By: Aize Perez
