REDLANDS, Calif. — The Redlands Art Association’s annual Youth Art Expo returned over Memorial Day weekend with its largest showing since before the pandemic, drawing more than 120 entries from student artists across the region.
Hosted in conjunction with Art in the Park, the 2025 show introduced two new award categories—High School 3-D Art and the MCAEEF Special Award—and recognized winners in five age divisions, plus overall Best in Show recipients.
The art was displayed in an exhibition tent on Eureka Street outside Smiley Library. Hands-on art activities were available to children of all ages next to the exhibits.
Top honors went to:
K–2nd Grade: First Prize – Aubrey Wang, Birds Singing Spring
3rd–5th Grade: First Prize – Eva Tacchia, Echos of Self
6th–8th Grade: First Prize – Fuhan Xue, Oscar Howe
9th–12th Grade: First Prize – Anna Song, Homesick
Best in Show awards went to Jackson Grenfell (Santa Barbara Mission) in the K–5 division and Eva Rodriguez (The Princess of Childhood) in the 6–12 division.
The new High School 3-D Art category recognized Amber Phillips’ ceramic sculpture The Jolly Gator with first prize. Other winning pieces included Blue Glazed Bust by Shyla Cerbantes and Whale Shark by Clarise Cameron.
A special award from the Margaret Clark Art Education Enrichment Fund (MCAEEF) was presented to Redlands High School senior Trinity Hernandez for her sculptural piece Quetzalcoatl Y Xolotl, honoring the twin Aztec gods through expressive form, color, and historical reflection.
“Much of their mythology has been lost through time and colonization,” Hernandez wrote in her artist’s statement. “I used what we know of the pair to sculpt this piece, taking from the known colors and remaining depictions.”
Organizers say the show’s revival and growth post-COVID reflect the community’s strong support for arts education and creative expression.
2025 Youth Art Expo Winners
Kindergarten – 2nd Grade
1st Prize: Aubrey Wang – Birds Singing Spring
2nd Prize: Yesmeena Alshyoukh – Untitled
3rd Prize: Elizabeth Guo – My Family
Honorable Mention: Rickesh Taj Gehlot – Bananas
3rd – 5th Grade
1st Prize: Eva Tacchia – Echos of Self
2nd Prize: Maximilian Velasco – Rainy City
3rd Prize: Calvin CEO O’Donnell – Our Camp Site
Honorable Mention: Yuhong Pan – Comics: Super Duper Beats
6th – 8th Grade
1st Prize: Fuhan Xue – Oscar Howe
2nd Prize: Hancock Li – Praying Hands
3rd Prize: Sophia Che – Embracing Peace
Honorable Mention: Rhiannon Haire – A Peaceful Place
9th – 12th Grade
1st Prize: Anna Song – Homesick
2nd Prize: Rhyan Reed – The Shadow of the Forest
3rd Prize: Tyler Kalanjian – Veiny Paint
Honorable Mention: Kouture Rudedas – Wave Over Face
Best in Show
K – 5th Grade: Jackson Grenfell – Santa Barbara Mission
6th – 12th Grade: Eva Rodriguez – The Princess of Childhood
High School 3-D Art
1st Prize: Amber Phillips – The Jolly Gator
2nd Prize: Shyla Cerbantes – Blue Glazed Bust
3rd Prize: Clarise Cameron – Whale Shark
Honorable Mention: Maya Francisco – Fairy House (cookie jar)
Margaret Clark Art Education Enrichment Fund (MCAEEF)
2025 Special Award for Unique Interpretation, Use of Color and Materials
Recipient: Trinity Hernandez – Quetzalcoatl Y Xolotl
