All Oak Hills High School students electing to enroll in an Art and Design Department course will develop a Competitive Advantage, Appreciation of the Arts, Creative Thinking and Problem Solving Skills, Interdisciplinary Connections, Social and Global Awareness, and Career Preparation related to Visual Communication.
The OAEA (Ohio Art Education Association) High School Show showcases Ohio’s Emerging Artists’ artistic efforts. The Emerging Artist show is dedicated to showcasing the artistic efforts of students who have only had the chance to take one or two art classes in high school. The competitive professional forum is intended to prepare young artists for their creative future in college or in an art career. This showcase is designed to inspire new artists to excel in the areas of drawing, painting, sculpture, crafts, computer art, photography, and printmaking. Everyone involved should be proud of the students who inspire, creative thinking, problem-solving, and skillful techniques.
This year’s exhibition showcases over 120 works, selected from more than 170 entries, of art by students in grades nine through eleven from across the state. The work will be on display at the Riverside Methodist Hospital 3535 Olentangy River Rd, Columbus, OH 43214 with a exhibition closing reception on September 26th, 2026 at 1:00pm. Prizes will be awarded to Best in Show in: Photography, Drawing, Mixed Media, Sculpture, Computer Design, Printmaking, and Painting, at that time.
Congratulations to the following students from Ms. Schorsch’s Studio Art Foundations and Drawing and Printmaking classes on being selected to exhibit at this year’s Emerging Artist exhibition.
Desmond Damon Belle Kirby Liliana Pisegna Anna Schuler
A year-long collaboration between the OHHS Art and Design Department and The Wellington at North Bend Crossing has culminated in the completion of a beautiful new mural that will welcome residents and visitors to the Vista building for years to come.
The project began during the summer of 2025 when The Wellington at North Bend Crossing sponsored an open mural design contest. Students in Ms. Kopf’s Painting and Public Art classes were invited to submit original mural concepts, providing them with the opportunity to create artwork for a meaningful community space. After reviewing several outstanding student submissions, residents of The Wellington selected the winning design created by junior Sona Sougoule. Her vibrant concept served as the inspiration for the final mural, showcasing both her artistic vision and creativity.
Once the design was selected, students began preparing the wall in April 2026. Over the course of several months, the Painting and Public Art classes worked together to transfer, paint, and complete the large-scale mural. Through careful planning, teamwork, and countless hours of painting, the students transformed an ordinary wall into a colorful work of public art that reflects the spirit of community and creativity.
The Wellington celebrated the project’s completion with the following message on its Facebook page:
“We are thrilled to share that the mural at our Vista building is now complete! What began as an incredible vision has become a beautiful work of art that will brighten our community for years to come. We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to the talented students in the Painting and Public Art Class at Oak Hills High School, led by Miss Kristy Kopf, for bringing this project to life.
A special congratulations once again to junior Sona Sougoule, whose winning design inspired this amazing mural. Your creativity, dedication, and talent have left a lasting impact on our residents, families, and team.
Projects like this remind us of the power of community partnerships and the joy that art can bring across generations. Thank you to everyone who made this collaboration possible—we couldn’t be more grateful!”
This project is a wonderful example of how public art can bring people together while providing students with authentic, real-world artistic experiences. The OHHS Art and Design Department is incredibly proud of Sona Sougoule and every student in the Painting and Public Art classes whose hard work, dedication, and collaboration made this mural possible. We are grateful to The Wellington at North Bend Crossing for creating this opportunity and for partnering with our students. We look forward to seeing the mural continue to brighten the lives of residents and visitors for many years to come.
Congratulations to the OHHS Art and Design students’ whose art was selected as a High Merit piece for the Spring 2026 Celebrating Art competition and publication! Receiving a Top Ten or High Merit award means the art was an exceptional piece. Out of thousands of entries received for the Spring 2026 contest, they stood out as being one of the top 5% submitted. Students who have art selected as Top Ten or High Merit work will receive special recognition in the book as it is displayed as a Top Ten or High Merit piece.
Congratulations to the following students:
From Schorsch’s Drawing and Printmaking, and Studio Art Foundations classes: Liam Edenfield Jocelyn Lawrence Nathan Muhlen Sarah Sieve Madeline Smith
Liam EdenfieldJocelyn LawrenceNathan MuhlenSarah SieveMadeline Smith
From Dignan-Cummins’ Sculpture and AP Art 3D Design classes: Charlie Morehead J.T. Schmidt Marina Sek
Just Earth – Cincinnati, in collaboration with new and longtime partners, aims to educate and facilitate action among residents of the Cincinnati region to address the intersecting crises of climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental injustice. The Just Earth Visual Art Competition, open to 2 categories of artists (18 and under, and 19 and over) called for submissions that expressed warnings for the future, images of celebration, images depicting regret or loss, or pieces of art depicting hope and exaltation over a healthy world and all of life’s cycles. Submissions were judged by a committee of local artist and art educators and prizes were awarded for 1st ($500); 2nd ($250); and 3rd ($100) place.
Tym’Shay Akins, a student in Ms. Schorsch’s Studio Art Foundations class, was recently awarded 2nd place for her submission, “Stop Chemical Waste”!
Stop Chemical Waste Tym’Shay Akins
“My artwork responds to the growing environmental crisis caused by pollution and chemical waste in the ocean. I created this piece to raise awareness about the damage humans are causing to marine life through careless dumping, plastic waste, and toxic chemicals. The artwork is meant to confront viewers with the reality that the ocean is suffering because of human actions, while also encouraging people to take responsibility before it is too late.
One of the main symbols in my artwork is the large “X” placed over the fish. The “X” represents death, danger, and the destruction of sea life caused by pollution and toxins in the water. It symbolizes how marine animals are being harmed by chemicals, oil spills, plastic waste, and contaminated environments that humans create. I specifically included sea creatures like dolphins and turtles because they are animals people often love and connect with emotionally, yet they are still endangered by human behavior.
I used bright, bold colors to immediately grab the viewer’s attention. The vibrant colors are meant to draw people in at first, but once they look closer, they notice the darker message about environmental destruction. The contrast between the colorful design and the serious subject matter reflects how pollution is often ignored even though it is happening all around us. The words “Stop Chemical Waste” serve as a direct call to action, pushing viewers to think about their own habits and the ways they may contribute to pollution every day.
My artwork is also a warning for the future. If people continue to ignore environmental issues and refuse to change harmful behaviors, many ocean animals could disappear forever. I want viewers to understand that small actions, like recycling plastic bottles or reducing waste, actually matter. The piece challenges people not to simply feel sorry for the animals, but to recognize their own role in the problem and take action to help protect the environment. Through this artwork, I hope to inspire awareness, responsibility, and change before the damage becomes irreversible”.
Oak Hills High School senior Lydia Wilson has earned the High School Level award for her piece titled “A Wrinkle in Time,” featured in The HeART of the Community show at the Delhi Event Center Gallery!
Presented as part of The HeART of the Community show, a celebration of young artistic talent and creative expression from the West Side of Cincinnati, Lydia’s work stood out among many compelling entries displayed in the exhibition. This recognition highlights not only Lydia’s voice as an artist, but also the importance of school and community partnerships in fostering the arts. With the support of educators and the vibrant platform provided by the Delhi Event Center, student voices like Lydia continue to shine.
The HeART of the Community is on view at the Delhi Event Center Arts Gallery until August 16th. This year’s show celebrates 140 student artists (46 from OHHS!) from 8 West Side schools and includes OHLSD winners from: Stacey Battoclette’s 8th grade RRMS student, Macie Eilerman, as the Middle School Level winner; Jeanna Linenkugel’s 8th grade BMS student,Olivia Holzbacher, for the Celebrate America 250 category; and recent alumnus and MSJU student, Jordan Tinsley (2025). for the University Level winner under mentor Dr. Michaelann Kelly.
The students, family, friends, and teachers will be recognized at an Awards Ceremony at the 4pm start of the next Board of Trustees meeting on July 15th. Congratulations to all of the exhibiting students on their selection for the HeART of the Community exhibition!
OHHS Art and Design 