The first semester of the 2024 school year has been a remarkable showcase of talent and hard work for the art and photography students at Joliet Central High School. The students have earned top honors and recognition in a series of prestigious regional art exhibitions, demonstrating their dedication to their craft and creativity. From the Chicagoland 4x5 Art Show to the JJC Art Invitational, these talented young artists are making their mark in the community and beyond. 

Chicagoland 4x5 Art Show: 11/6/24 
Joliet Central High School Students Shine at the 4x5 Chicagoland Art Show 
Congratulations to the talented art and photography students from Joliet Central High School for their impressive achievements at the 4x5 Chicagoland Art Show. The students who received recognition for their outstanding work include: 

• Esme Bryson - Honorable Mention/Drawing 

• Nicole Rojas - Honorable Mention/Mixed Media 

• Anahi Murillo - 3rd Place/Photography 

• Shantal Rivera - Honorable Mention/Photography 

The Chicago Area 4x5 Art Exhibition began in the 1999-2000 school year at Fremd High School in Palatine, Illinois, thanks to the visionary efforts of Len Upin. The show was designed to challenge student artists to work within the small, yet striking, dimensions of 4x5 inches. The result was an impactful and rapidly growing exhibition that now features over 1,000 pieces from more than 40 schools across the Chicagoland area. Today, the 4x5 Art Show is recognized as the largest student-run art event in the city, celebrating creativity, community, and the exceptional talent of young artists. The Chicagoland 4x5 Art Exhibition is continuing its tradition of celebrating student art with the Award Winners Showcase, hosted at Water Street Studios in Batavia. Student works from the 2D categories that received 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and Honorable Mentions was  on display in an exhibition that opened on Friday, December 13th, from 6-9 pm in the upper gallery at Water Street Studios and remained on display during their regular hours through February 2^nd.

NIU High School Art Invitational: 11/16/24 
Joliet Central High School Students Represent at the NIU High School Art Invitational 

The NIU High School Art Invitational, sponsored by the NIU School of Art and Design, celebrated the best high school artists from the northern Illinois region. Four talented students from Joliet Central High School were selected to represent the school: 

• Tommy Jemilo 

• Rauri O'Hara 

• Aron Chimmy 

• Mia Cardenas 

This exhibition provided a unique opportunity for students to showcase their work and connect with peers from across the region. 

JJC Art Invitational: 12/6/24 
Joliet Central Students Earn Recognition at the JJC Art Invitational 
The annual JJC Art Invitational brought together the best work from area high school students in a variety of media, including drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, graphic design, and photography. Art faculty from each participating school selected up to five student pieces to be featured in the exhibition, where JJC Visual Arts Faculty awarded first, second, and third place honors. 

Joliet Central High School had five students selected to participate, with Esme Bryson earning 2nd Place and receiving art supplies for her achievement. 

• Esme Bryson - 2nd Place Winner 

• Yuvia Hernandez 

• Makyah Stallings 

• Tayla Stallings 

• Aron Chimmy 

All of the work was displayed in the Laura A. Sprague Art Gallery, providing an opportunity for the public to experience the creativity and talent of the next generation of artists. 
 
Joliet Central High School Art Students Shine at USF Art Exhibition: 1/11/2025 
Congratulations to the talented art students from Joliet Central High School who earned awards in the prestigious USF Art Exhibition and Competition! 

• Eduardo Patino Perales won Best in Show for his exceptional works on paper. 
• Esme Bryson, Aron Chimmy, Yuvia Hernandez, Tommy Jemilo, Ingrid Pizano, and Makay Stallings received Honorable Mentions for their impressive artistic contributions. 
• AP Photo student, Amilio Gonzalez, received the prestigious Award of Excellence for his solarized darkroom print, Burned Factory. 
• Photo 2 student, Tianna Romberg, earned the prestigious Best of Show - Photography for her stunning piece, Autumn Veil. 
• AP Photo student, Ivy Sontag, received the prestigious Honorable Mention for her beautiful work, Hide Away. 

We're incredibly proud of their hard work and creativity, and we look forward to seeing their continued success in future artistic endeavors. Keep up the great work, artists! 

Congratulations to these talented artists and to their instructors Nyssa Grzyb, Rachel LaVine, and Anne Zmuda!  View the Award-Winning Work HERE.