Six students from the Greenwich High School Visual Arts Department have received regional recognition in the 2026 Connecticut Regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, one of the nation’s longest-running and most competitive programs for creative teens.
Juniors Luca Portolano and Yihan Shao each earned Gold Keys, the highest regional distinction, advancing their work to national adjudication. Senior Layla Morris received a Silver Key, while Eleanor Kim, Alexa Loera, and Adam Shin were awarded Honorable Mentions for individual works and portfolios.
Founded in 1923, the Scholastic Art Awards identify and celebrate exceptional student achievement across mediums ranging from ceramics to digital art and photography. This year’s results place Greenwich students among the top young artists in the state.
Luca Portolano, Grade 11, earned a Gold Key in Ceramics and Glass for Breaking Point, a sculptural vessel that transforms functional pottery into a charged emotional study. The piece features a human face contorted in a cry, a vivid streak of blue glaze cutting down one cheek. The form balances craftsmanship and intensity; the mouth of the pitcher becomes the open expression itself. The work demonstrates advanced control of glazing and structure while conveying psychological weight through material.
Yihan Shao, also Grade 11, received a Gold Key in Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage for Jack of Light and Shadow. The composition centers on a seated angelic figure fractured by geometric blocks of color. Classical imagery merges with digital manipulation, creating a layered interplay of shadow, illumination, and abstraction. Large serif letters hover within the composition, suggesting symbolic language woven into the visual field. The piece reflects both technical fluency and conceptual ambition, hallmarks of strong digital practice.
Senior Layla Morris earned a Silver Key in Mixed Media for “And Eat it Too.” The artwork combines painting and dimensional elements, including a suspended paper chain that extends beyond the canvas. The central image depicts a young girl resting beside a frosted birthday cake, her expression contemplative. The addition of three-dimensional materials invites viewers to consider the passage of time and the rituals associated with childhood milestones.
In Drawing, junior Eleanor Kim received an Honorable Mention for Toys for Girls. The piece presents a girl framed by rich red drapery, manipulating miniature figures—a toy soldier and a small dog—within a carefully rendered environment. Decorative borders and detailed textures create a theatrical atmosphere. The drawing explores themes of expectation and narrative through intimate gesture and composition.
Senior Alexa Loera earned an Honorable Mention for her photography portfolio, “Dualidad.” One featured image portrays a young woman crowned with flowers, her face partially veiled. The black-and-white treatment heightens contrast and mood, emphasizing the interplay of concealment and revelation. Across the portfolio, Loera investigates dual identity and cultural symbolism through portraiture.
Senior Adam Shin also received an Honorable Mention for his photography portfolio, “Why Does Time Fly?” A standout image captures two figures seated on a swing ride suspended above the Wonder Wheel at Coney Island. The tilted horizon and radiating spokes of the Ferris wheel convey motion and immediacy. Shin’s portfolio examines fleeting moments and the visual language of movement.
According to the Connecticut Regional Scholastic Art Awards, Gold Key recipients advance to national judging in New York City, where selected works may be exhibited and considered for scholarships. Regional award-winning pieces are also showcased in state exhibitions, offering students the opportunity to share their work with broader audiences.
The Greenwich High School Visual Arts Department has a longstanding record of participation in the program, with students regularly earning recognition across disciplines. Faculty members emphasize rigorous technical instruction alongside conceptual development, encouraging students to refine both craft and voice.
This year’s awardees reflect a wide range of mediums—ceramics, digital painting, mixed media, drawing, and photography—underscoring the department’s breadth. Their work engages subjects as varied as emotional strain, mythology, identity, childhood ritual, and the velocity of time.
