Gallery
Get Inspired
Welcome to the Youth Gallery! This vibrant space showcases the incredible creativity and passion of young people making a difference in mental health and well-being. Explore various projects, from powerful artwork and compelling writing to captivating performances. Let these inspiring creations spark your imagination and motivate you to join the #CreateConnectCare movement. Together, we can create a more compassionate and connected world.
Campaign
Art Activity
Age Groups
Focus Areas
Static Numbness
Visual ArtsStatic Numbness
Artist
Jasmine Z.
Group/Class
Imaginate Ink Group
Arts activity type
Visual Arts
Reflection
Through “Static Numbness” I was trying to capture the specific atmosphere of this one time I was so overwhelmed I completely shut down. How it had felt to look into the mirror and feel as if I was seeing through myself, as if there wasn’t a me who was physically there to be seen at all. How the great bearing weight of stress and responsibility had ostensibly been piercing through my very soul, yet at the same time it was as if I couldn’t feel anything at all. Creating this helped me to externalize a feeling I didn’t think I had the proper words to describe, turning a horrible experience I couldn’t bring myself to explain to those around me into something I hope can be viewed and understood. I think it’d be natural for people to feel unsettled or discomfited when they see this artwork. I want them to be able to visualize the static, disconnecting numbness that can happen when everything is just way too much.
I plan to display and share my artwork: I hope after seeing my work, those who have never gone through or do not understand this sort of experience might have a better visualization of how it might feel. I wish for people to recognize a few pointed things: not all struggles are visible in appearance, not all emotions are apparent in expressions, and numbness often acts as a guise for all sorts of distressful emotions. When I had shut down, I’d appeared calm and collected on the outside but was actually experiencing an overflow of hazy teeming turmoil inside. I hadn’t told anyone, and no one had noticed. Thus, I also hope people will be more mindful of themselves and also their loved ones after seeing my art!
The Power of No
Literary ArtsThe Power of No
Artist
Jasmine Z.
Group/Class
Imaginate Ink Group
Age group
13-15
Arts activity type
Literary Arts
Reflection
“The first time he pinned me to a wall, voice lowering—the compliments, always the same compliments—it scared the crap out of me. When I threw his arm off of me and blew up at him for doing something so unprecedented out of nowhere, he didn’t apologize and explain. No, he stepped back and monotonously said, ‘Wow, this is why I hate myself. I should just go die.’”
Narcissism can come in different guises. In “Hunter’s” case, it came in the guise of self-flagellation to take the spotlight off of what he had done to hurt me and instead shine a spotlight on how he felt hurt. This is a classic tactic many givers don’t recognize as they feel natural empathy for anyone in pain. I wrote this short piece as a cautionary tale for my fellow givers to be able to recognize toxic behavior even when it’s disguised.
I plan to display and share my artwork: In Give and Take: A Revolutionary Approach to Success, Wharton Professor Adam Grant says 25% of people are givers, 56% are matchers, and 19% are takers. Sometimes it’s hard for us givers to recognize takers in disguise as they can be charming or play victims in a way that tugs at our hearts. However, if someone is an energy vampire by constantly taking from you and never giving, it’s time to let them go, because if we givers allow our “friends” to constantly obsess over their own pain, they will think it’s okay to think only of themselves, and we givers will become exhausted. Grant says when we remove the takers from an organization, the matchers feel safe to give and the givers do not become drained. This is how I learned to say “no” to someone who was bad for me even though I initially thought he was a victim of someone else.
There is No Box to Fit In
Visual ArtsThere is No Box to Fit In
Artist
Jasmine Z.
Group/Class
Imaginate Ink Group
Age group
13-15
Arts activity type
Visual Arts
Reflection
“There is No Box To Fit In” reflects my joy in overcoming the pressures I had for a long time felt to define specific parts of myself and having the freedom to explore my own identity. All through my younger years, I’d always felt the need to draw myself one way—plain and normal, how I looked in real life—because it felt fake to draw myself as a person I wasn’t. This was a form of restriction I put on myself. In middle school, my friends began trying to label me because I wasn’t interested in doing it myself. They started telling me things like,“You’ve never liked anyone, you’re aromantic!” and “You’re always wearing black, you must be emo!” For a good while, I felt obligated to fit myself into their descriptions even though it felt wrong and restricting. However—two crushes, a situationship, a relationship and a lot of research later, things changed. I proudly dubbed myself pansexual, because that’s what I felt described me best. I’ve since found that it doesn’t matter if I want to draw myself with a mustache and pink hair even though that’s not how I actually look, because that’s the fun of exploring what I can be in my art. Seeing my little character in the bright colors and stylish boots I’d put them in, the real me didn’t feel so plain anymore! I now own multiple pairs of pretty boots, lots of different frog hats, and wear whatever I want on any given day. I hope when others see my art, they’ll feel the same delight I try to portray!
Being Allowed
Group/Class
Creative Writing and Hope Squad
Age group
16-18
Arts activity type
Literary Arts
Reflection
This is a poem about my struggles with loneliness due to not having anyone to connect to as a Pilipino and queer person. It even led to people putting me at arms’ length since they were not willing to understand me, even if it was about these parts of me that I can’t control. However, it also shows how I came to be comfortable in and embrace these parts of myself.
The ABC
Visual ArtsThe ABC
Artist
Sam L.
Age group
16-18
Arts activity type
Visual Arts
Reflection
My artwork “The ABC” tries to express the experiences I feel living as an American born Chinese teenager, or an “ABC”. Caught between two cultures, I have always felt growing up that I didn’t belong in either; I was never taught to speak my native language fluently, and I loved peanut butter sandwiches just as much as the next kid. I was always told by many on both sides that I was “not Chinese enough” or made fun of because of my different looks, experiences which I had to endure from elementary to high school. The disconnect I felt from both of my cultures led to my identity being pulled in opposite directions, resulting in feelings of isolation. However, I have learned by reaching out to others that my experiences being a first-generation Chinese student were being felt by people across the world. I want people who feel a sense of recognition and representation in my artwork, and know that their experiences are shared.
Accidentally Conencted
Visual ArtsAccidentally Conencted
Group/Class
Accidentally connected
Age group
16-18
Arts activity type
Visual Arts
Reflection
We wanted to highlight how many students hide how they really feel, eventually being able to open to someone and being able to express how you feel is very important to your mental health, behind the smiles you can’t really tell what someone is going through.
Broke Man’s Therapy
Media ArtsBroke Man’s Therapy
Artist
Alexander
Group/Class
V.I.S.I.O.N. Academy
Arts activity type
Media Arts
Left In The Dark
Media ArtsLeft In The Dark
Artist
Keily "Karl" G.
Age group
16-18
Arts activity type
Media Arts
Reflection
The Title of my PSA is Left In The Dark because that is exactly how I feel when I can see and feel that my parents are stressed about things, in particular ICE in our neighborhood. I would like for them to not try to hide the family problems from me. Them telling me that nothings wrong or it’s not for me to worry about only adds to my stress.
“Show me.”
Literary Arts“Show me.”
Group/Class
Imaginate Ink Group
Age group
16-18
Arts activity type
Literary Arts
Reflection
My piece, “Show me,” explores what a panic attack feels like from the inside, especially when there is no clear reason for it. Through the image of an orb that keeps turning faster, the narrator is pushed into searching for something they cannot define. The more they try to find it, the more overwhelming everything becomes.
I also wanted to capture the tension, confusion, and frustration that comes with feeling like you are supposed to prove something but not knowing what that “something” is. It reflects the pressure many teenagers feel about their future, their worth, and whether they are doing enough, even when nothing is explicitly asked of them, similar to panic attacks and how they function with no reason.
By the end, the narrator steps outside of themselves and watches, creating a sense of detachment that mirrors how people sometimes cope with intense anxiety.
I hope that when others read or see this piece, they feel understood if they have experienced something similar, or gain a deeper empathy for those who have. This piece is meant to make invisible struggles feel seen.
Keep on Going
Visual ArtsKeep on Going
Artist
Shravani K.
Age group
11-12
Arts activity type
Visual Arts
Reflection
Sometimes taking a walk can help with your mental health. The quote by “Serena Williams” shows that one should never give up.
At Sixteen
Literary Arts, Visual ArtsAt Sixteen
Group/Class
Imaginate Ink Group
Age group
16-18
Arts activity type
Literary Arts
Reflection
“At Sixteen” is a poem that came from a conversation I had while volunteering at a senior living home. I originally started with the idea of helping seniors and other teenagers–creating something like a leadership project where I could share the experiences of older generations to guide people my age who feel uncertain or pressured by their parents to do and be certain things as the elderly tend to have more perspective after experiencing the full hurly-burly of life.
I thought I was going to be the gift bearer as I planned to listen to what the elderly shared and turn them into stories that could help others.
But through that process, it became something that blessed and changed me more than I ever imagined.
In the poem, I talk about opening up about my own uncertainty, and instead of receiving direct advice, I was met with understanding. Ms. J, the elderly lady I interviewed, did not try to fix anything about me. She simply listened, and in doing so, helped me see things more clearly. She caused me to question the values with which I had been raised to embrace ones that would lead to more meaning and joy, and her values echoed something one of my teachers had also taught me.
Sometimes it takes hearing the same thing from different voices for it to penetrate the human brain.
What started as an effort to help others became something that helped me the most. I realized that not having everything figured out is not something to fear, but something to accept.Best of all, initially, Ms. J didn’t realize she had anything of value to share with me. But in changing me, she saw she was a house of treasure. She told me my poems moved her tears and that even after she is gone (she has terminal cancer), she will always be with me. I never dreamt what I crafted with my own hands and heart could have this kind of effect on people. It has caused me to realize I have more to share than I imagined.
Through “At Sixteen,” I wanted to capture that quiet shift. Sometimes, the person you are trying to help ends up helping you instead. It is through generosity that we rise. No one succeeds alone.
We Heal By Creativity
Visual ArtsWe Heal By Creativity
Artist
Xiang H.
Age group
16-18
Arts activity type
Visual Arts
Reflection
This piece is about the action of healing through imagination and inner peace. The main character in this piece is a girl drawn in grayscale; her color was drained by the weight of depression and inner pain. Her heart is exposed revealing the sadness and gloominess of what she carries within. However, inside her mind, koi fish swims in her head, as a symbol of harmony and strength. As they swim through the currents of her imagination, bringing warmth and color back into her world that had once felt colorlessness. A dove, symbolizing peace, swiftly stitches her heart closed. This act is symbolizing that healing is not sudden, but through the process of patience, self-strength, and inner peace. The red thread that closes her heart reflects the effort it takes to heal oneself. The soft, childlike-colored background contrasts her pain with a sense of innocence and happiness. It suggests that healing does not always come from overthinking, but from reconnecting with the parts of ourselves; like kids, we love being silly and funny. It’s important that even as teens and adults, it’s okay to have characteristics of how you act as a child; the world doesn’t have to be so serious.
This work is deeply personal to me, because it speaks to the idea that even in though we may be alone sometimes, we still have the tool to heal. Through imagination, creativity, and the pursuit of inner peace, we can begin to “stitch back” our vulnerable stuff, trauma, pain, etc. For those who struggle, this piece is a calming reminder, that healing can be something you create. And even in your darkest, colorlessness moments, you still hold the power to bring yourself together!Away From My Mind
Visual ArtsAway From My Mind
Group/Class
Vista del Lago High School NAHS
Age group
16-18
Arts activity type
Visual Arts
Reflection
There are times when my mind is crammed with overwhelming, loud, and chaotic thoughts. When that happens, I may need a break from my own mind. Giving myself some tome to complete no tasks, do nothing productive, and mess around is enough to refresh my mind so I can continue my day with a clear head.
My World
Visual ArtsMy World
Artist
Angela N.
Age group
16-18
Arts activity type
Visual Arts
Reflection
My vision board reminds me that I am responsible for my own happiness. This is Ace’s world and I am in control of my feelings and mental state.
A Window Into Mental Health
Visual ArtsA Window Into Mental Health
Artist
Sophia V.
Age group
16-18
Arts activity type
Visual Arts
Reflection
This is a photograph that I took that was meant to represent a jar filled with miscellaneous phrases related to mental health and experiences. There are facts, inspirational quotes, statistics, and poetry that I found connected to my experience with mental health. I drew a cracked window on the jar to symbolize the complexity of mental health, and the idea that with the growing awareness of mental health the stigma will crack and break like glass.
The Home That Was
Visual ArtsThe Home That Was
Group/Class
Imaginate Ink Group
Age group
13-15
Arts activity type
Visual Arts
Reflection
I took “The Home That Was” from my car window looking out at my parent’s homeland, Taiwan; the place both my grandparents found refuge from Mao’s regime during WWII. Even in my grandma’s last cancer-ridden days as she lay in a hospital bed in America, her home country was where she wanted to return. In the wake of her passing, I felt a hurricane of emotions. Anger, grief, guilt. I was angry about the unfairness of disease, of the cancer that had stolen my grandma. I felt grief, both for my family, myself, and my grandma, grief for everything she never got to do. There’s a Burberry jacket my parents bought her that whispers from her closet she never wore because it was “never the right time.” I feel grief for everything I never got to do with her, and grief for everything my family endures. Setting foot on the other side of the ocean, I could only feel guilt. Guilt that my grandma would never be able to return home. And guilt that I didn’t want to feel guilty. Often, I can almost ignore it. Ignore that she’s gone. That she’ll never be able to give me an extra scoop of ice cream or intently watch Chinese dramas with me. Just as often, I feel guilty for ignoring it. Sometimes I feel guilt for feeling guilty as I can’t imagine what my dad, aunt, uncle, and cousin who were raised by her must be feeling. Her best friend, 16 hours away in Taiwan, couldn’t make it in time. I’ve come to realize although she was my grandma, she was also just a girl. One who never got to stop running, yet never left her family behind. I hope she can stop running now, and just rest. In Taiwan, my grandma’s home, I found a piece of her story. I hope when others read this who have endured loss, they will know they are not alone.
Ode to my Fellow Writers- Poem
Group/Class
Imaginate Ink Group
Age group
13-15
Arts activity type
Literary Arts
Reflection
I crafted this for my fellow writers–for having the courage to face the blank page every day. We change hearts to change minds. I like to say poetry is my first love. I believe poetry may be what started my love of writing. There’s something so beautiful about conveying so much in so little words. When writing poetry, you really get to take your time imbuing meaning into every word. To me it represents life itself, in the way you have to fit meaning in every word because the lines are too short to not do so.
Viva La Raza
Visual ArtsViva La Raza
Artist
Carlos Q.
Age group
16-18
Arts activity type
Visual Arts
Reflection
Connection
Hope Blooms
Visual ArtsHope Blooms
Group/Class
Creative Writing and Hope Squad
Age group
16-18
Arts activity type
Visual Arts
Reflection
One of the biggest parts of spreading awareness about mental health is spreading hope. Hope is believing that you can influence your future, that you can grow, improve, change, and make things better. Hope brings color to people’s lives as they find their purpose, their sense of self, and realize that actionable improvement is possible, even (or especially) in difficult times.
My artwork, Hope Blooms, is meant to showcase the power hope has to both heal and support people in times of struggle. The skeleton is symbolic of anyone who has gone through periods of hardship, be it mental, physical, or emotional, myself included. The flowers and vines blooming and growing throughout the skeleton represent hope and its ability to inspire, bring to life, and reinforce healthy mindsets.
The medium, macrame, actually holds personal meaning for me in relation to hope: it is a craft that has brought me joy and given me a sense of direction and purpose during times when I felt emotionally and mentally shaken. It has given me an art form through which I can navigate my feelings and express myself; it grounds me. Through this artwork, I hope to share with others a bit of what this craft has given me: hope.