The works of nearly 35 local high school artists were showcased at the Oxford High School Senior Art Show, hosted in the school’s performing arts lobby.

OHS Visual Arts Instructor Rebecca Ziemianski organized the event, which included the work of OHS seniors and juniors taking a senior studio art class.

Each work of art represented the unique experiences and styles of each student.

OHS senior Kristiana Wardlaw focused her display on “art aesthetics” and fashion.

Wardlaw, who plans to attend Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles after graduation, said her time taking art classes at OHS have helped her grow as both an artist and as an aspiring fashion designer.

“There are definitely some lessons that transfer (from art to fashion),” said Wardlaw, who was wearing a shirt she had designed and made on her own. “For example, I’m not really that good with picking colors. I’m a weird person, I like to mismatch everything, but I feel like art has helped me blend colors and figure out what goes well together without having them (look) too funky.”

For senior Maya Wilde, the inspiration for her artwork was all drawn from her mother, Julia Wilde, who passed away last year.

Among her artwork were a sign which read “je t’aime,” or “I love you,” in French and a large painting which represented her view of Heaven.

“It’s unfinished, but it’s basically a painting of my view of Heaven. I’m taking her funeral flowers and damping them and gluing them into a 3D flower. It’s kind of (got) a feel-good kind of vibe,” said Wilde.

Senior Sarah Davis, who has taken art classes throughout her entire high school career, focused her display on the often-exaggerated beauty standards expected from modern-day women.

Her illustrations portrayed images of women with wildly full lips and narrow waists— each calling attention to the concept of hyper-femininity.

Davis said she has learned the importance of experimentation throughout her artistic endeavors.

“They’ve shown me it’s really important to try new things and to try to expand your horizons on what you can do,” said Davis, who plans to pursue a degree in illustration at Grand Valley State University after graduation.

Tia Gilles, a senior, displayed a series of paintings, drawings, and illustrated journals at the art show— many of which gave a nod to her Chinese heritage.

Exhibiting images from Chinese Sumi-e landscapes to Chinese New Year events with family, Gilles said the images all represented different stages of her development as an artist.

“There’s some embarrassing stuff I never want to look at ever again but it’s nice to be able to see how I’ve changed and improved. I’ve learned how to work hard and to improve even though it might not be obvious. It’s a gradual process and then you can look back and see how much you’ve grown,” said Gilles.