Art By: Ashanda Powell, Frederick Douglass High School, 12th grade – The Last Look
I am naming my artwork “The Last Look” because I believe your eyes are the gateway to your soul and mind. When I look into a person’s eyes, I love how I can easily read their feelings or thoughts. As one nears the end, take a final look in a person’s eyes, it is often overwhelming, the last promise of a connection with the past, a way to hold on to the beauty of what once was. Ultimately, these moments highlight the human need to honor the journey, preserving the beauty of what once was while preparing for the changes ahead. Those final moments are not just about loss, but about appreciation, growth, and trust in the future.
Art By: Ameera Siddiqui, Frederick Douglass High School, 12th grade – Social Masking
This artwork was made to represent social masking within the Black community to show its external expectations and internal struggles. The mask on the left represents forced happiness and the expectation of the subject to conform to society’s norms, while the mask on the right shows the pressures faced from the real world, making the subject fit into something they are not. The confusion in the middle is made to show how difficult it is to balance one’s true identity within a society that is constantly forcing people into roles. The artwork was made to show the challenges many people face, especially in marginalized communities, trying to fit into people’s expectations.
Art By: Armani White, Frederick Douglass High School, 12th grade – The Action to Their Words
The title of my art piece, “The Action to Their Words,” reflects the tragic and complex gap between what is said and the irreversible action that may follow. I chose colored pencils for the medium because they best suited the image I envisioned. Through this work, I hope to encourage people to think twice before speaking to others, as words can sometimes be the tipping point for someone in pain. You never know when your words might be the last straw.
Art By: Camarria Perry, Frederick Douglass High School, 12th grade – Almond
My art piece describes the concept of confidence and self-identity using the secretary bird as a symbol of confidence standing in a bed of amaryllis flowers. The woman rests in the petals of flowers and feels comfortable and self-assured because of the bird’s protection. The woman symbolizes self-identity, for she has many surrounding her as beds for her (the flowers).
Art By Christopher Waller, Booker T. Washington High School, 9th grade – Mental Health & Self Esteem
My art piece represents my self-esteem and how I mentally picture myself. I added quotes from famous people that boost a person’s self-esteem. I used oil to blend the colors together and added the APS symbol at the bottom of my characters. I chose to do my project this way to show my art style and express my personal emotions, represented by dark and bright colors.
Art By: Dekiyah Williams, Benjamin E. Mays High School, 12th grade – To See, To Feel
This piece addresses the health issue of blindness. On the left side, a girl is seen pulling an eyeball from her reflection. This action symbolizes her deep desire and yearning to see. For individuals who experience blindness, their perception of the world can feel vastly different, and they may struggle to understand the truth without the ability to see. The background and color scheme convey the dark emotions associated with blindness, while the abstract line on the girl’s eyes connects with the floating eyeballs. This illustrates the girl’s disconnection from seeing.
Art By: Eternitee Brown, D. M. Therrell High School, 12th grade – IDENTITY
Identity. Identity can be defined in many ways: a mindset, a feeling, or lifestyle. When I think about my identity, I think about what makes me Eternitee. I used shades of pink, yellow, and blue in my piece to represent my identity. These colors make up the pansexual flag. Being pansexual is a massive part of my identity. This self-portrait portrays me “finding myself” (depicted as a lost toy).
Art By: Elyssa Simmons, Booker T. Washington High School, 12th grade – Bloom Into You
Environmental scientists plant sunflowers in contaminated soil because it has the ability to absorb radioactive materials. In the same way, our brains can take external negativity and bloom it into something beautiful. The statement, “A mouth full of soap,” can apply to stating something offensive about oneself. Daffodils hold a meaning of rebirth and new beginnings, representing the change of heart that comes with building self-esteem.
Art By: Faith Grey, Frederick Douglass High School, 12th grade – They See Me Not
My work, “They See Me Not,” was created with acrylic paints. I feel as though my artwork was best reflected through the added furry aspects, as well as the transgender flags added everywhere. I could have improved painting-wise, as I’m not the best at backgrounds. I’d say that was the biggest struggle for me, figuring out how I wanted everything to look and being satisfied with how my art came out. I would like to get better painting-wise. I feel this way because, creatively, I always strive to improve whatever I’m working on. When learning to analyze my work, I realized that I make many mistakes that can be fixed. I try as often as it takes to finish and improve my work until I feel satisfied with the outcome.
Art By: Inara Hasan, D. M. Therrell High School, 12th grade – Masked Fortitude
I created this piece to reflect my journey of masking my insecurities while trying to protect myself from the world. The masks in the artwork represent the roles I’ve played, the layers I’ve worn to hide my vulnerabilities. They’ve been my shields, guarding me against judgment, rejection, and the fear of being truly seen. But beneath those masks lies my true self, raw, imperfect, longing to break free.
The unmasked face in the center is intensely personal; it’s a glimpse of the part of me I’ve kept hidden for so long. Creating this piece was both painful and healing. It forced me to confront the duality within me: the strong, composed exterior I present to others and the fragile, insecure self I often battle in private.
Each detail, each stroke, is a step toward understanding myself. Blending beauty with protection felt like a way to reconcile these parts of me. This artwork is more than an expression; it’s a journey. It’s a reminder that while the masks I’ve worn protected me, there’s strength in vulnerability and courage in letting the world see who I am.
Art By: Jeremiah Cox, Frederick Douglass High School, 10th grade – Growth Within on the Hill
Creating this piece was a journey of reflection and exploration of what self-growth truly means. The scenery represents my inner self, with the tree at the center, embodying my core identity. Each delicate leaf, shaped like a string, symbolizes a unique characteristic or a challenge I’ve overcome and the accomplishments I’ve achieved along the way.
The hill represents my starting point — my parents gave me life and nurtured me. Without my mother’s care and guidance, I wouldn’t have had the foundation to begin this growth journey.
The stars in the sky symbolize the future — bright and full of promise. They represent success, wealth, and the evolution of my sense of self, reminding me to keep reaching new heights.
The thing I most loved while working on this piece is the nature aspect of it all, how a single plant, a feeling of green outside, the grass, can feel like a sprout of life. I rarely get outside, but whenever I get the chance, I love looking at the plants and thinking about how peaceful plant-life organisms truly are.
Art By: JaQuayla Gaither, Booker T. Washington High School, 12th grade – Lonely Nights
Even if you feel like you’re not enough, you always feel the opposite or/and someone will always love you, no matter how you view yourself.
Art By: Jayden Lawless, Benjamin E. Mays High School, 10th grade – CSBD
Compulsive sexual behavior disorder (CSBD) is a proposed mental health condition characterized by excessive sexual thoughts, urges, or behaviors that cause significant distress or impairment in daily functioning. It involves persistent and uncontrollable preoccupation with sexual activities. It is accompanied by attempts to reduce or stop the behavior without success.
Art By: Journee Mcfarlane, Benjamin E. Mays High School, 11th grade – Sporadique (Sporadic)
This drawing portrays the aspect of ADHD, allowing viewers to visualize the mind of someone who struggles with it. I took inspiration from a vase my aunt owns. The vase depicts a woman who appears to be daydreaming, with baby’s breath blooming from her head. This inspired the concept of sporadic thoughts often associated with ADHD.
In this drawing, the colors of the flowers symbolize different thoughts and emotions. Red represents anger and frustration. Blue symbolizes sadness or timid feelings. Yellow conveys happiness and excitement. Green stands for curiosity. Orange signifies ambition. Pink reflects flirtatiousness, and purple represents humility.
The mask on the lady symbolizes how individuals with ADHD often hide their struggles, as the symptoms are not outwardly visible. ADHD is more of an internal battle, a form of mental warfare. This is why someone who seems to be daydreaming or not paying attention is not doing it intentionally; they are hindered by internalized barriers.
Art By: Joseph Smith, Booker T. Washington High School, 12th grade – Spread Your Wings O’ Sacrifice
This art piece is a representation of sacrifice and selflessness. The pelican, which is known for piercing her own breast to feed her young, is seen crossing a river of thorns to “water” the area. The symbol shown is the Celtic symbol for family. Blood along with water are known for their symbolism for life. Instead of leaving this area of dying grass, she would rather sacrifice herself to help her family.
Art By: Khalise Watkins, Benjamin E. Mays High School, 12th grade – Introspective-pensiveness
This artwork is an expressionist piece about the five stages of grief, self-reflection, the dispassionate mind, and the subjectivity of the future. I decided to use pastels to give a dismal feel, something present yet transient, like life. All the colors blend like the elements of life, depicting and exuding one big message and sensation (internal battles).
Art Credit: Paradyce Wheeler, Frederick Douglass High School, 9th grade – The Woman in the Mirror
This drawing is about somebody who’s confident, beautiful, and charming themselves because of their beauty. Just in their room admiring themselves. She’s confident, and she is showing self-love to her reflection.
Art Credit: Shanii Armour, Booker T. Washington High School, 12th grade – Pink
Relationships can be filled with anger as well as sadness. Dissonance in all relationships can create a riff between people. Pink shows how a healthy relationship should be nourishing and create a symbiotic relationship.
Art Credit: Tia Roberson, Benjamin E. Mays High School, 12th grade – 4 Eyes
Regardless of looks and style, people still have insecurities: glasses/sight being one of them. The photo highlights the glasses and word “4 eyes” in the background, showing how insecurities can take a toll on someone. The green surrounding her and the word is an ongoing thought/phrase.
Editor’s Note: This online gallery presentation is commissioned by Fulton County Board of Health SKYE program.
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