Student artists brush shoulders with the pros at Artclectic 

From October 23 to 25, the Sperling Gym donned a black cloak and transformed into a grand art gallery. 

Each year, artists from across the country gather for Artclectic, one of USN’s most lucrative and longest-running fundraisers. However, for the first time in the event’s history, this year a collection of student artwork was on display.

Piloted by the newly-founded Art Cult, the show displayed work from 15 students across the high school. 

Led by juniors Bridget Beem, Theo Burgess, and Amelia Scanlan, Art Cult is “a space for people to connect over art and work on collective projects,” said Scanlan. 

While this was the first time a student show has been held at Artclectic, it is not the first time a show like it has been attempted. In 2023, a group of student artists tried to hold a student show at Artclectic but encountered many roadblocks, ultimately causing the proposal to fall short.

“We just felt like the whole event of Artclectic was very far removed from the student body, and even though we got to see [the show], we felt like it was such a missed opportunity as art students,” said Eliana Gorden ‘24, one of the pioneers of the failed initiative. 

“We asked if we could hold a collective student booth, not for sale, but just to show our art and connect with the other artists, and [the art department faculty] said no,” added Gorden.

The art department faculty indicated that Artclectic, as a juried show for professional artists, is not the appropriate forum for student art.

In an act of peaceful rebellion, the artists displayed their work in the stairwell of the art wing, accompanied by a few signs that guided people to the stairwell and explained the group’s goals. 

Although not officially recognized, the rogue show drew attention from Artclectic attendees. 

“We had some really engaging conversations with parents and teachers that came to… our gallery, so I hope the students this year will have the opportunity to connect with people over their art and gain the experience of exhibiting and sharing their work,” said Gorden. 

While Gorden and her partners never had the level of involvement in Artclectic that they had hoped for, in retrospect, they laid the groundwork for this year’s success. 

“[Artclectic] is the biggest time where such a big crowd of people outside of USN are coming to visit, and to not let students show their art and put themselves out there would be a big loss,” said Scanlan.

This year, the student show didn’t have to hide in the corner. Work was displayed on a board adjacent to the entrance of Sperling gym, ensuring that each person entering Artclectic saw the students’ art.

While the art at the student show was not for sale, it captured the attention of countless visitors from across the city. The display sparked enthusiasm among both viewers and participants. 

“I think it’s good for people to have the opportunity to have their work shown,” said Burgess. “Not only is it good for personal outreach and experience, but also, I think people want to see it, like parents and people who are supporting our collective want to see what the students of USN are doing and how talented they are.”

Art teacher Christopher Cheney is the faculty sponsor of Art Cult and has been an artist at Artclectic for the past two years. He sees the student show as a way to improve confidence among the younger generation of artists. 

“The part of making art that builds confidence is so big for young artists as they develop a vocabulary, style and various interests,” Cheney said. “There’s fear in sharing and showing and that fear ultimately builds you up and says, ‘Hey, you can do this.’” 

“I think it’s a really positive thing for young artists to do, so I’m happy that it’s happening,” he added. 

A poster of zombified Cheney, illustrated by Porter Ratliff ‘26, was used to advertise the student show. Ratliff has attended USN since the first grade and has been highly active in the visual arts. 

“It’s always been really cool seeing the professional artwork every year growing up. Now that I’m older, it’s been a really cool experience to be in that space with my work,” said Ratliff. 

Following the success of this year’s show, Art Cult hopes that the student exhibition will not only become a regular part of Artclectic but will also continue to grow in size and prominence. 

Art Cult has already reserved the Tibbott Gallery for next year and hopes to include lower and middle school artists in the show.