Creativity Takes Centerstage at CHNY Youth Art Show

Just before the gallery doors opened, the artists scrambled to their positions next to their paintings and framed poetry. As they waited for patrons to fill the brightly lit hall, the 27 youth artists, all residents or alumni of Covenant House New York, were themselves filled with eager anticipation, pride, joy, and not a little trepidation.

“Will my works be good enough?” Pluto, a current resident, asked himself. “I feel a little, like, imposter syndrome,” he said. “I know they’re good, but are they as good as the others? I hope someone likes my work.”

Immediately, though, he recalled what made him decide to exhibit his pieces at the fourth annual Covenant House New York Youth Art Show. “I want to show people the way I see the world. I’ve been through so much, and I’ve accomplished so much as well,” he said. “For me, art is an outlet for the hope I keep inside. I can’t express it any other way.”

Pluto need not have worried about patrons’ appreciation for his and all the artworks on display. The guests soon flooded the hall at the recently opened Covenant House International Innovation Center, pausing every few steps to gaze, excitedly chat up the artists, and bid on their works.

Often, what motivated a bid was the artists’ own sharing of what inspired them or how they sought to express some deeply held experience or emotion, just as Pluto described.

“I loved this painting the minute I saw it,” said Anthony, a patron, of the piece he purchased, “Echo of Uncertainty,” by Mistou, a CHNY alum and four-time participant in the art show. “When she told me I was one of the few people who could see the small boat at the center, I felt like it was meant to be mine.”

Dionne, who, like Anthony, was a first-time guest, was excited to take home two paintings “On My Way” and “A Way to You,” for very different reasons.

“On My Way” by an artist who elected to remain anonymous depicts a little girl holding a big bunch of brightly colored, heavily textured balloons. “It’s so whimsical,” Dionne said, “and seems to reflect all the possibilities.”  Meanwhile, “A Way to You” by Bowsart is a more pensive painting, depicting a bright flame tree on a country road at sunset. “It’s a lonely road, but beautiful. I could see it in my house, and myself looking at it daily.”

Partners in Art

The fourth annual Covenant House New York Youth Art Show was the first event to be held in the new Covenant House International Innovation Center, which is adjacent to CHNY. The floor-to-ceiling windows displaying the cityscape all around, and the openness and the warmth gave the event a true Manhattan gallery feel.

“This is the young people’s first time in this new space. The change of scenery, fresh coat of paint, it’s like a fresh start. Like the fresh start they’re seeking,” said Renata Alexis, senior vice president of residential services at CHNY and host of the event.

Covenant House partner Relish Catering was on hand for the fourth year, passing elegant hors d’oeuvres and colorful mocktails among artists and guests.

Behind the scenes and for weeks leading up to the show, another repeat partner, Arts Ignite, worked with the youth artists, helping them bring their inspiration, their emotions, their dreams to life on canvas, in photos, and in words.

Like artist Jordan, who’s portrait of actor and director Michael B. Jordan, “MBJ,” exhibited great skill. Talking with a patron, Jordan shared in photos her first attempts at the painting. Beginning with three figures — Michael B. Jordan, flanked by the characters he played in the film “Sinners,” — she ultimately decided to narrow down her subject to the actor only.

“To focus on his accomplishment,” Jordan explained. “Michael B. Jordan pushed Black people into the horror genre,” with his Oscar-winning performance of twin brothers “Smoke” and “Stack” in that film.

From Idea to Annual Event

Renata spoke about how the event has grown from a simple, one-time idea to an annual event that both youth and patrons look forward to. She reminded patrons that the event belongs to the youth artists, who, besides showing off their talent and self-expression, take home every penny of every dollar made on the sale of their works at the show.

She said that over the first three years, 90 youth artists had shown their works and made a collective total of $30,000. In 2026, the number of total participating artists rose from 29 the previous year to 46, and together, the youth made more than $13,000 from the sale of their works this year.

Youth artist Nyori participated for the second time. They explained to a patron their framed photo of a New York City building, “A Signal for Hope.” It was shot at an upward angle, and just above the center of the frame are rows of windows bathed in purple.

“Purple is my favorite color,” Nyori said. “It wasn’t a great day when I took the photo. It was cold, and I felt like I might be stuck. Walking along 41st Street, I looked up and saw the purple in the windows, and I knew everything would be okay.”

The Value of Self-Expression

The real value of the creative process and the CHNY Youth Art Show is found in the opportunities these offer youth to find the mediums of their own self-expression, to share their experiences with others through art, and to have their talent recognized by appreciative patrons.

For young people whose early life was often characterized by situations that curtailed their self-expression, the encouragement they find now in art and in the Covenant House New York staff, partners, and art patrons who support them, cannot be overestimated.

Fayan, whose artwork “Lighters” includes a handwritten poem over the background of a painting of gold-flecked fireworks, said the piece is about overcoming fear. “It’s my story,” Fayan said. “Starting with fear of the unknown. It ends with something more beautiful: freedom and autonomy.”

For the youth artist known as Shonar Konna, or “Golden Daughter” in her native Bangla, self-expression is something she deeply prizes. “In Bangladesh, girls don’t have many opportunities to express themselves,” she said.

At Covenant House, as a member of our newly formed International Youth Congress and a participant in the CHNY Youth Art Show, she is finding “a burst of opportunities” for self-expression and, she said, she’s using her voice to create more opportunities for herself and others.

Shonar’s mixed-media painting “Outside the Box” reflects the joy she feels in working with dried flowers and in her determination to use her voice. It shows a series of ascending picture frames enclosing small and beautiful dried flowers. But the frame at the very top right corner of the painting is broken, and the flowers escape.

Made possible by the support of the Covenant House community, the CHNY creative arts program operates year-round, providing opportunities for youth in visual and fine arts, songwriting, music, and audio production in our in-house studio, and other immersive activities that nurture creativity and self-expression.