Student Artwork Displayed at the Wadsworth Athenaeum

Julia Sohn, a talented high school senior, is showcasing her photographic artwork in the Avery Court of the renowned Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art through an internship sponsored by The Amistad Center for Art and Culture. The program, titled SNAP! Photography brought together high school students to explore the art of photography under the mentorship of professional artists and curators.

In a bit of serendipity, Sohn stopped by the museum’s table at KO’s Summer Programs and Career Exploration Fair (SPACE Fair) and picked up a pamphlet. “I was a little curious. I stopped by and saw what it was about,” she said. “I almost did not end up doing the program, but I applied at the last minute and got in.”

The six-week program was an immersive journey for Sohn and her peers, blending technical training with creative exploration. Equipped with Canon Rebel T7 DSLR cameras, the young artists delved into various forms of digital photography, from street scenes around Hartford to experimental shots within the museum itself.

Sohn’s featured photograph, a vivid and striking oversized image of silhouetted Queen Ann’s Lace, captures an overgrown and seemingly mundane area near a golf course in her hometown of Bloomfield. Reflecting on the piece, she expressed her fascination with finding beauty in overlooked spaces, turning the ordinary into art. “This is a trashy overgrown area that I pass by on my drive home. I think it’s cool that it is now in the Wadsworth. Nobody knows that,” Sohn remarked with a smile.

For Sohn, this experience sparked a newfound passion for photography and deepened her connection to art. She took foundations in art in her freshman year and is currently enrolled in the advanced studio art class. After school in the spring, from her freshman through her junior year, she participated in the after-school art program. Photography is a relatively new medium for Sohn. She said she works primarily with colored pencil drawing, and she has recently been experimenting with hyperrealism inspired by the work of C.J. Hendry. 

While Sohn plans to major in economics in college, she finds art adds another dimension to her personality. “I am able to access a different side of my brain,” she said. “Especially with school, you’re very focused on one thing and aiming for one goal. With art, you can go off to the side and make something beautiful. There are no strings attached.”