Previous Art Submissions

Below are our high school, middle school, and elementary school art submissions! Students have used the following questions to guide their work:

How have you been empowered by the accomplishments of Black people and/or Black movements? Who is a Black person that inspires you?

Be sure to vote for your favorite piece using the google form on our "Vote on Contest Winners" page.

High school art submissions

Brown Skin Girl by Veronica Ngo

(10th Grader Mount Rainier High School)

The art I drew was based off of a scene in Beyoncé’s music video “Brown Skin Girl”. Featuring Adut Akech and Naomi Campbell who are both beautiful models in the music video. The question was to make art based on a women who inspires you. And, to me and many young girls and women Beyoncé has always inspired me. She makes me feel proud to be a women in her songs. She’s shows that she can be a truly strong black women who also can express vulnerable emotions. The first time I heard and saw the music video “Brown Skin Girl” I honestly felt like I wanted to cry. I can’t relate to the lyrics but, I know how much Beyoncé has impacted young black and brown girls with that song. To me Beyoncé has always sang songs that mean something. Her songs can help motivate, empower, and make you want to cry. She’s an inspiring women of color who can incorporate her culture in her art and help those in need. For someone who grew up feeling insecure the lyrics: “Brown skin girl, your skin just like pearl.” really touched my soul.

Prayer Hands by Anni Tadesse

(11th Grader Highline High School)

My drawing of Prayer Hands is a piece of art that I thought was an appropriate description of what we need in the world right now. Throughout history, faith has been used as a means to escape the hardships that come along with this world, whether it be poverty, oppression, persecution, etc. It is a way to bring light to a dark situation. Faith serves as a beacon of hope for the suffering. It reassures us that we aren't alone because we know God is watching over us.

Emperor Aste Tewodros by Anni Tadesse

(11th Grader Highline High School)

BLM Summer of 2020 by Eyanna Bannister

(9th Grader Evergreen High School)

Disruption by Yazzy

(9th Grader Foster High School)

Hi, I’m Yazzy! During this covid-19 situation I have found a true passion for art. As I stayed home more I was able to experiment with paints and different brushes. Looking forward I started to observe my environment for inspiration. During the summer of 2020 there was a lot going on with social injustice and inequality. So I started to paint what I was seeing. A lot of these problems made me realize the challenges that we are facing in the world around us. This is why I try to put myself in new experiences to connect with the community and learn more through my artwork.

CHOP by Alex Runnels

(9th Grader Highline High School)

This is a picture I took in June at Capitol Hill while the protests were going on. The first thing I think of when I see the picture is how kind everyone was, people were giving away free food, masks, hand sanitizer. There were people helping each other and I saw absolutely no violence. No anger. Why was it that the news were showing only violence when there was so much more kindness and caring people? I felt empowered by this Black movement because most people were protesting peacefully even though Black people have faced so much hate and brutality and deserve to be angry and violent. People were leaving flowers and candles out, mourning these innocent people’s deaths. Black voices are beautiful and need to be heard. I hope this photo shows just how strong, caring, beautiful, and overall just how amazing and empowering Black people can be.

A Broken Dream by Sirak Kebede

(10th Grader Raisbeck Aviation High School)

In my one beat by Livy Yanga

(11th Grader Evergreen High School)

Emptying my Soul by Sarah Berhan

I wrote this poem and created this poster in the summer of 2020. Due to COVID-19, I was unable to attend the protests, but I still decided to make a poster as if I was going. This is the sign I would've held. Half of the girl's head represents the beauty of being black, the other half displays names of black lives lost to police and white supremacists, showing the trauma of being black in America. This piece of art, served as an outlet at a time in which I was so emotionally exhausted. A black man's death was televised and there still was a question, as to whether or not the police officer who killed him should've been arrested. MONTHS later, it is relieving to see Derek Chauvin serving his time. But was justice really served, if it took this long? I know we have a long way to go, one step at a time, I hope to see progress and will be a part of the change.

Art piece by Louise Ishimwe

(10th Grader Highline High School)

Shirley chisholm by Riley Brantley

(10th Grader Highline High School)

Shirley Chisholm stood up for herself and others. She worked VERY hard to make a difference in the community not only for black people but for women all around. People should remember her because a lot of people have never heard of her.

Middle school Art submission

Aimee Allison by Juliana Ghebrihiwot

(6th Grader Chinook Middle School)

For this I used a pencil and my hands. I basically had a reference to help me draw her and then just added some stuff like her name and the website she work at. I picked Aimee Alison because she is a powerful leader not to mention she did join the army being a Combat medic so she helped a lot of people in the army and she cares a lot about the people in the army and helping them buy even a book. So this tells us that she has leadership, she is strong and very passionate about things she cares about and has a very kind heart.

Elementary school art submission

Art piece by Paige Beverly

(3rd Grader Madrona Elementary School)

Pic of google VS. Paige Beverly's. I love it! I did it! Yay!! and I picked Obama!

Self portrait by Abigael Makoy

(3rd Grader Madrona Elementary)

I inspire myself!

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