Online Gallery – Group B (Ages 11–14)
Welcome to the online gallery of the 2026 Atlantic Youth Art Festival. Below are the artworks of our young artists, presented alongside their own artist statements. Works appear in exhibition order — every voice shown equally.
“Where the Waves Connect Us”
by Zhimo Zhu · Exhibit No. 4
Inspired by Halifax Harbour, my artwork explores the connection between people, nature, history, and culture. The ferry, lighthouse, Citadel, Mayflower, and marine life represent Nova Scotia. Yarn and golden thread create movement in the waves and symbolize invisible connections.
“We are Nature”
by Lilan Cau · Exhibit No. 5
We are nature My artwork is about connection with nature. I want to show people that human and nature are not separate. We are all life we all live in the same planet, and we should for each other, I use a shape filled with different parts of nature and different parts of human, such as trees, flowers, clouds, hands and eyes. Each small section is different, but they are all together in the same shape. This shows that we and nature are connected. I hope my artwork reminds people to respect nature, protect the environment, and remember that we are connected to each other.
“1803”
by Daisy Tingru Wang · Exhibit No. 10
The Old Town Clock has stood over Halifax since 1803, connecting generations through a shared place and history. People from different times have all looked up at the same landmark, creating a connection that continues today. As someone who now lives in Halifax, I feel part of that story. The clock reminds me that connection isn’t only between people—it can also exist through the places that shape a community. Even as the city changes, the Old Town Clock remains, carrying the memories of the past while continuing to connect people in the present and future.
“Beyond The Glass”
by Thriya de Tissera Anthony · Exhibit No. 20
This artwork shows the connection between people and nature through a rainy night. Inspired by the peaceful yet gloomy feeling of watching rain through a window, I wanted to show the beauty found in quiet moments.
“Tech & Nature”
by Cynthia Guo · Exhibit No. 22
Nature is the source of our growth, and technology is an important tool for exploring the world. By observing seasonal changes and the behaviors of animals and plants, we draw inspiration to develop various machines; Intelligent monitoring systems can protect forests and rivers, healing environmental wounds in return. My painting depicts the connections between tech and nature. The flow of technology development is affecting and changing everything around us, pushing us to make innovations, and providing us a higher angle and better way to understand and resolve problems.
“Pay it Forward”
by Karishma Ramprasad · Exhibit No. 26
Environment and Climate change impact. The inspiration I had for this art work was actually one of my school projects that me and my friends did together. The project was called ‘Pay it Forward,’ where we had to pick an organization and do a presentation, fundraiser to donate, and a poster board. We picked an Ocean Organization, so I take inspiration from the poster board. The ways this connects to me is my mom works closely with Environment Canada and hear stories of climate change impact. The connection this has with people is how our actions affect nature. Say for example, you are at the beach and just finished a bag of chips, but instead of throwing it in the trash, you leave it in the shore. After you leave, the trash either gets blown into the ocean or stays in the land that impacts the nature. Another impact I have seen in people is when the polluted water is exposed to human skin, it causes skin conditions that causes discoloration or different skin texture. People often get bullied for it, which I can’t stand personally. At the end, it is our fault for causing it and everyone should be treated equally. No matter the race, gender, skin, we are all the same and should be treated with love.
“Blooming Roses”
by Zia Shrestha · Exhibit No. 28
For my artwork blooming roses the connections i incorporated or tried to was nature and a bit on how we connect with people. The woman in the drawing kinda represents mother nature and of course there is some greenery like the mushrooms and roses on the flower crown. Then the glowing orb is a mix of unity, life or stuff like that. The thing that inspired me the most was nature or fantasy in general.
“Little Explorer”
by Lissa Dragunsky · Exhibit No. 31
I like taking walks in nature with my family. We often go to parks, forests and hiking trails together. I enjoy looking for interesting plants, butterflies, ladybugs and birds. I also enjoy sharing with my parents and younger brother the knowledge I have learned about them. My first teacher taught me to love nature. She made learning about animals and plants interesting. Since then, I have been full of curiosity about the world around me. In this painting, the ladybug is much larger than in real life. I draw like this because when I was a child, I thought ladybugs were very big. I want to depict the ladybugs in my memory from a child’s perspective. This painting reminds me that if we take the time to observe carefully, we will find that nature is full of tiny wonders.
“One with the Roots That Tie Us Together.”
by Jayden Nnaji · Exhibit No. 33
My artwork, One with the Roots That Tie Us Together, shows a reflection of how nature is connected to us as individuals. Through the boy’s sunglasses, he sees and enjoys the beauty of nature. The boy’s afro represents the leaves of a tree, while his face and neck represent the tree trunk that connects us to the Earth. His blue shirt represents the sea, showing that we are all rooted in nature. Humans and animals all benefit from the beauty of the world we share. The birds, trees, sunset, and person walking a dog remind us that we all depend on nature and are connected by the environment around us. I hope my artwork encourages people to appreciate nature and take care of it together.
“Guanyin Bodhisattva”
by Ziqing Wang · Exhibit No. 41
Connections defines the core of this charcoal rendering—an interplay between Eastern spiritual iconography and Western chiaroscuro discipline, between material presence and metaphysical resonance. The seated Guanyin, rendered in refined black-white-grey gradations, embodies Buddhist serenity while simultaneously engaging Western drawing traditions through sculptural shading, cross-hatching, and volumetric contrast. Her half-veiled gaze, ornate tiara, and flowing drapery retain the elegance of classical Chinese devotional imagery, yet the modeling of light and shadow evokes Western realism, creating a cultural and aesthetic bridge.
“It’s all connected to nature”
by Lucy Furlotte · Exhibit No. 43
My artwork shows that insecurities are the bodies way of showing the most beautiful parts of nature. What inspired me to make a peice of art with this message was how insecure so many people are in this generation including myself. I hope this artwork will inspire others to see the beauty in their insecurities.
“Halifax Guardian”
by Dongxian Cai · Exhibit No. 44
I draw this because the light house is a famous in Halifax and I draw it as protect the ships and people that living in Halifax
“Where Earth Meets Water”
by Thriya de Tissera Anthony · Exhibit No. 45
Inspired by the peaceful beauty of mountains, trees, and water, my artwork shows how different parts of nature are connected. I hope to express the calmness and harmony that can be found in the natural world.
“While You Were Looking Away”
by Feiyang Yue · Exhibit No. 51
While You Were Looking Away explores the invisible connections that shape our lives and our communities. The central figure reaches toward the boundary between her world and ours, making direct eye contact with the viewer while surrounded by a wall of interconnected evidence. The red threads represent the unseen links between personal experiences—such as bullying, appearance anxiety, academic pressure, and loneliness—as well as larger global issues like climate change and the health of our oceans. The gallery setting reflects how important issues can exist in plain sight while people continue to move past them. The teenagers in the background represent how easily we become distracted by our own lives and unknowingly overlook both the struggles of others and the challenges facing our world. This painting asks viewers to consider the connections that often go unnoticed. Our words, actions, and choices affect one another, our communities, and the environment in ways that are not always immediately visible. By placing the audience behind the invisible “fourth wall,” I hope to encourage a moment of reflection: What have we been looking away from, and what might change if we chose to truly see?
“Cycle of connections”
by Daisy Tingru Wang · Exhibit No. 52
This piece shows the connection between growth, change, and renewal. The flowers, fruit, seeds, and bare branches in the mirror represent different stages of life, showing that every ending creates the possibility for a new beginning. Although each element appears separate, they all connect to one another to complete the cycle. Nature reminds me that connection is not always visible—it exists through time, and growth. By placing the contrast together, I wanted to show that life continues because everything is connected, from a single seed to a full harvest.
“Midnight Fawn”
by Thriya de Tissera Anthony · Exhibit No. 54
This artwork represents the quiet connection between wildlife and nature. I was inspired by the calmness of a deer that sneaks into my garden, and I used shades of blue to express peace, mystery, and the beauty of the natural world.
“United As One”
by Martha Nachtrieb · Exhibit No. 55
I believe everyone has a root connection. This connection bonds the person tightly to what they love. I used to have a betta fish, with a flowing long tail. I loved him, and he was (half) interested in me. He was my root connection. After he passed on, I expanded my connection to all of nature, and specifically, water. Connected by our roots, as one.
“Snow cosy day”
by Linda · Exhibit No. 56
This painting depicts a snowy winter. I drew a small house. There are many trees around the house, as well as a snowman and a little cat. I used blue, white, green and red to draw this scene. I want to present a quiet and interesting winter, making the entire scene look warm and cozy.