FOCUS on Impact Student Art Exhibit

Engage students through creative expression on real-world issues like Environment, Mental Health, Immigration, Indigenous Culture, Racism, Women’s Rights, and more.

Through research, reflection, and artistic response, students translate complex social themes into visual expression—building empathy, strengthening critical thinking, and contributing their voices to a broader community conversation.

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Congratulations to the 2026 Finalists!

These ten exceptional works were selected through our jury process for their creativity, artistic excellence, and powerful storytelling.

The winning artwork will be revealed at the Film Insider Series screening on August 19. Stay tuned as we celebrate the incredible talent and voices of this year’s student artists.

Click on each artwork below to learn more about the student artist and the inspiration behind their piece.

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How the Finalists Were Selected

Each submission to the FOCUS on Impact Student Art Exhibition was thoughtfully reviewed by a panel of artists, educators, and community leaders. Rather than selecting favorite pieces, jurors evaluated every work using a consistent set of criteria, including creativity, artistic skill, originality, connection to the theme, and overall impact.

The ten finalist artworks stood out for their ability to communicate powerful ideas, inspire meaningful conversation, and demonstrate how art can create awareness and encourage change.

While these pieces were selected for this year’s exhibition, every student who participated contributed an important voice to the conversation. We are grateful to each artist for sharing their perspective and using creativity to explore issues that matter.

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Eligibility & Submission Format

This competition is submitted through participating teachers. Full eligibility details and technical submission requirements are outlined in the Artwork Specifications document.

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Program Reach

The program partners with selected SDUSD middle and high schools and continues to expand in phases. It highlights the creativity, analytical thinking, and advocacy skills students develop through visual arts — while encouraging informed, respectful dialogue around today’s most pressing challenges.

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Classroom Connections

This challenge supports SDUSD Visual Arts learning targets, including:

• 7.AMP1 — Develop and apply methods and criteria to meet goals
• Prof.AMP2 — Examine and revise works in progress using relevant criteria
• Prof.AME1 — Investigate everyday life through contemporary art and design practices
• Acc.AME1 — Design in response to contemporary issues
• Acc.AME2 — Use inquiry methods to explore unfamiliar subjects through artmaking

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Questions?

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Celebrating our past winners

2025 Winner: Reaching In

 ARTIST: Matisse Kinney Grade: 9. MEDIUM: Acrylic Paine School: San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts Teacher: Terisa James 

STUDENT STATEMENT
This painting is a visual representation of how it feels for me to go through depression and start to come out of it. The blue represents someone who is stuck in sadness and feels alone. The warm colored figure, full of reds, oranges, and yellows, represents something much more powerful and stands for strength, growth, and healing. She could be part of ourselves and that fighting to get better, or someone who helps and makes us feel seen and supported. When the warm figure places a hand on the blue figure’s shoulder, the color starts to spread, showing the moment when things begin to change. This small gesture represents support, whether it comes from someone else or from within ourselves. The painting is about how, even in dark times, growth and healing are possible. 

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2025 Winner: Analogous (Body Dysmorphia)

ARTIST: Jas Soto. Grade: 8 MEDIUM: Digital drawing and collage  School: San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts. Teacher: Don Masse

STUDENT STATEMENT
This art explores the challenges of body dysmorphia, inspired by the unrealistic beauty standards spread by social media. This digital artwork was created using an iPad. The artist began by sketching their ideas and creating the line art in ibis Paint X. They then added color, contrast, and flowers to make the drawing stand out using Adobe Express. 

LCEO & Artistic Director Tonya Mantooth speaks to the 2024 winner, Jas Soto, and Don Masse, Teacher at SDSCPA, during the Festival’s 2025 August Film Insider’s Screening.

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Support the FOCUS on Impact Education Program

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Help expand access, support teachers, and amplify student voices.

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Thanks to our Partners