Carly Humphrey earns 2024 Artistic Merit Award

Ten Elk River High School artists had their artwork featured in the Joseph Gazzuolo Fine Arts Gallery at North Hennepin Community College recently as part of the 2024 Northwestern High School Art Exhibition.

Paintings, drawings, prints, jewelry, photography, and ceramic work were on display.

ERHS senior Carly Humphrey’s unique perspective acrylic painting “It Sticks to Kicks” earned the Merit Award for Elk River High School.

Participating ERHS artists also included seniors Addison Rafferty, Gavin Schwartz, Maddie Stover, juniors Tessa Kovar, April Levens, sophomores Breanna Allen, Matisse Hahn, and freshmen Audrey Haas, Riley and Robert Hora.

Participating high schools included Champlin Park, Elk River, Irondale, Maple Grove, Osseo, Park Center, Robbinsdale Armstrong, Robbinsdale Cooper, Rogers, St. Michael-Albertville and Zimmerman. The 16th annual exhibition celebrated the artwork of some of the suburbs’ most talented high school students.

NHCC intends to help these young artists reach a larger audience through participation in a college exhibition. Outstanding work from each school, chosen by NHCC art faculty, was selected for a special Artist Merit recognition. The closing reception was held March 26. Renee Zachman, NHCC Fine Arts administrative assistant, noted that the student artwork is “outstanding and quite impressive.