Each month, the Art department highlights outstanding student work by selecting two artists in 2-D and 3-D art. Sophie Kwan ’25 (2-D, Drawing and Painting), Katie Gallico ’25 (2-D, Drawing and Painting), and Brooke Simko ’25 (3-D, Metals) have shown immense dedication to their craft and continue to push creative boundaries through their work.
Sophie Kwan ’25, a Drawing and Painting Intensive student, has discovered that painting does not need to be perfect.
Kwan has always gravitated toward drawing and painting. Since elementary school, Kwan immersed herself in the acrylic classes that her mom enrolled her in outside of school. But as she grew older, what started as a childhood interest quickly grew into a creative outlet and reflection of personal growth.
“When I first started art, I always tried to color in the lines a little bit and keep it more safe and clean. Now, I feel like I’ve grown to be more free with what I’m painting. It doesn’t always have to be super concrete, and I like to lean into a more abstract kind of style,” said Kwan.
Kwan’s artistic process is fluid. Whether it’s building mood boards for a project or allowing a piece to change directions mid-process, Kwan lets her instincts guide her.
“It never really turns out how I go into it,” Kwan says, “but I like going with the flow.”
Pinterest plays a surprising role in this process, serving as a springboard for creative thinking. The platform helps Kwan collect thoughts and images that spark new ideas.
Kwan’s self-portrait, for instance, blends realism with an expressive background, capturing both her technical skill and her willingness to experiment.
“For the background, I didn’t really have an idea in my head. I just made a mood board and kind of went with the flow as I was painting,” said Kwan.
Kwan’s self-portrait was also inspired by a recent trip to Taiwan, using vibrant colors and free brushstrokes to represent the idea of comfort food and connection with her Taiwanese heritage. Photo courtesy of Brian Reddy.
In class, Kwan is known for her work ethic and focus. Her ability to tackle large-scale projects with independence and clarity has set her apart as a student in the drawing and painting studio.
“[Kwan] has an ambitious and independent work ethic. [She] is able to solve complex visual problems and work with consistent focus daily,” said Mr. Brian Reddy, the Drawing and Painting teacher.
Though she is not planning to pursue art professionally, Kwan sees creativity as something she’ll always carry with her.
“In college and beyond, I want to keep using art to relax and to express social ideas,” she says. “It’s a way to make messages in a way that words can’t.”
Kwan’s work reminds us that art isn’t just about the final product — it’s about growth and embracing the process. In that space, Kwan has found freedom, authenticity, and her creative voice.
Katie Gallico ’25, a Drawing and Painting Intensive student, uses art to preserve memory.
Gallico began her artistic journey early under the guidance of her father and grandfather, both artists themselves.
“I’ve been drawing since I was four. My dad sat me down and said he would teach me how to draw because he was tired of my stick figures. Since then, art has always been a big part of my life,” Gallico said.
Over the years, Gallico’s style has developed a focus on figures, faces, and poses, often tied to deeply personal themes. One of her main sources of inspiration is her father, who now has Alzheimer’s disease.
“Because of my dad, I’ve done a lot of my recent work on memories — cherishing old things, cherishing current things,” said Gallico.
Her ability to translate personal experience into visual form stands out in the classroom environment as well.
“Katie uses personal stories, her impressive knowledge of art history and media from her childhood to create original and complex illustrations. She can work with both digital and traditional media,” said Reddy.
One exceptional piece, “Dust Collectors”, features a collection of antiques from Gallico’s home, showcasing her connection to her family and self.
“It’s my favorite piece even though it’s a still life, which I don’t tend to like,” Gallico says. “There’s a portrait of my grandma in it, there’s a rosary, all these different things that I have in my family and house that I really love.”
The warm yellow tones and careful composition of Dust Collectors evoke a sense of nostalgia, inviting viewers to pause and reflect on the stories behind everyday objects. Photo courtesy of Brian Reddy.
Gallico approaches each new piece with a blend of instinct, inspiration, and a willingness to challenge herself.
“There’s always this middle stage where you hate what you’re making and get really frustrated,” Gallico said. “During this stage, you just have to power through until you find something you’re proud of.”
While Gallico doesn’t typically share her work publicly, being named Artist of the Month felt special.
“It’s fun to have people see my art — not just make it for myself,” she says.
Looking ahead, Gallico plans to attend the Rhode Island School of Design, majoring in architecture. She’s excited to explore more structured and geometric forms, a shift from her current style.
“I’ve always loved figures and fluid lines, but I’m looking forward to drawing buildings and pushing myself in a new direction,” Gallico said.
Brooke Simko ’25, a Metals Intensive student, transforms challenges into art.
When Simko stepped into the world of metals, she was stepping far outside her comfort zone. Known for her talent in the performing arts, Simko never saw herself as a visual artist. But in just two years, Simko has not only found her place in the metals program but has also emerged as an innovative and resilient young artist.
Simko took Metals I after transferring to the high school in her junior year. While most students progress through Metals II and Metals III sequentially, Simko’s enthusiasm earned her a spot in the Metals Intensive course her senior year.
At first, the technical challenges were daunting.
“I was terrified of soldering, which is honestly the entirety of what you do in metals, but my fear forced me to be creative,” Simko said.
Instead of backing down, Simko adapted. Her first piece — an arm cuff — relied on wrapping wires together to avoid soldering seams. This piece earned Simko a Scholastic Gold Key, a testament to her creativity and resilience.
“You wouldn’t have known that she had less experience,” said Ms. Shayla Vines, the Metals teacher. “Brooke actually won student of the quarter in September because of her hard work in my class.”
Simko’s arm cuff is part of a personal series based on various idioms. As a vegetarian, Simko was inspired by the phrase “You are what you eat”, using metal leaves to reflect her diet. Photo courtesy of Shayla Vines.
Some of Simko’s best work has come from moments of frustration. She recalls a project that began as a boat with clay ducks and hand-forged oars in a row, but the nickel she used warped relentlessly, and soldering became a constant struggle.
Instead of abandoning the piece, however, Simko transformed it. She submerged the piece in patina, turning it green like an oxidized shipwreck and renamed it Sink or Swim.
“I ended up being really happy about the piece, and I think it shows that rejection is redirection,” Simko said.
Despite the challenges of working with nickel, one of the most difficult metals to shape, Simko embraced the material’s unpredictability, using patina to evoke the natural aging seen on iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty. Photo courtesy of Shayla Vines.
Simko’s enthusiasm and resilience have left an impression not just on her teachers but on her peers as well. She’s known for her conceptual thinking, for tackling setbacks with humor, and for her fierce commitment to her craft.
“Brooke will laugh at herself the second she does something wrong,” said Vines. “She just goes with the flow, which many other students admire.”
Though she doesn’t consider herself a traditional visual artist, metals has opened up a new realm of expression. As she prepares to graduate, Simko hopes that metals will continue to be a part of her life.
“I was always creative, but I never saw myself as a physical artist,” she says. “Metals kind of came out of nowhere. It’s just a different side of me that I’ve really enjoyed exploring.”
