P. S. Art is an annual celebration of the artistic achievement of remarkable New York City Public School students and their dedicated art teachers. This year marks the twenty-third anniversary of P. S. Art, and the eighteenth year this juried exhibition has been hosted at The Met. It showcases 137 extraordinary works selected from nearly 1,000 entries by students in prekindergarten to grade 12. On view are collages, drawings, mixed-media works, paintings, photographs, prints, and sculptures by artists in all five New York City boroughs as well as District 75, a citywide district serving students with disabilities. Each work demonstrates active student participation and decision making in the creation process; imaginative use of media; the results of close observation; and an understanding of artistic processes. This exhibition illuminates the students’ journeys, questions, and discoveries from early childhood to young adulthood.
Supportive and engaged art educators play a vital role in nurturing student creativity, which positively impacts their social emotional growth. Art teachers encourage and challenge the students to observe the world around them and articulate their understanding through art making. As students progress through consecutive art courses from one year to the next, they develop a deeper understanding of artistic principles, refine their technical abilities, and cultivate the imaginative capacity necessary to convey their unique perspectives through art. A robust, continuous arts program is essential to ensure that students develop and thrive creatively.
The New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) and Arts Office gratefully acknowledge Studio in a School (SIAS) and The Metropolitan Museum of Art for their valued partnership. Heartfelt thanks to SIAS for their sponsorship and substantial role in the selection process and coordination of P. S. Art 2025. The NYCPS and Arts Office also express deep gratitude to The Met for their thoughtful involvement in selecting the final works, as well as mounting and hosting this exhibition.