Secondary students from across Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows are showing off their creativity and artwork in a public gallery exhibition at the ACT Art Gallery.
The exhibition, Next Generation: Art by SD42 Secondary Students, features student artwork in a variety of mediums, including painting, drawing, digital illustration, sculpture, mixed media, and ceramics.
More than 100 SD42 students submitted pieces that frame their perspectives through art, including Bella Oh, a Grade 9 student at Maple Ridge Secondary.
“I love making art but I never thought it could go further than a simple hobby,” said Oh. “Seeing something I had made myself being displayed in a public gallery means a lot to me.”
Oh submitted a mixed media piece made up of drawings of her friends, titled The Many Expressions of Friendship.
The artwork began casually, Oh explained, as a “silly painting” of a friend during class time. As she continued creating more drawings, her art teacher encouraged her to consider submitting the collection to the exhibition.
“I’m very grateful to that teacher for giving me the opportunity to participate in the exhibition,” Oh said.
Each drawing took her about half an hour to make, amounting to 15 hours in total. The process of putting all the drawings together into one piece took her about a week.
“Being able to have my art displayed alongside talented artists who have committed so much of their time, effort and dedication into the arts is really rewarding,” Oh said, adding this has been a “truly meaningful experience.”
Leah Sands, another participating student artist, says the experience has been very meaningful for her as well.
“It feels nice to see my painting getting looked at and others seeing what I have created,” said Sands, a Grade 11 student at Maple Ridge Secondary School. “I feel happy that my art is being displayed because I think all art should be appreciated.”
Sands created an acrylic painting of colourful clouds and a forest of pine trees, using thickening paste to give the clouds texture. Her piece is titled Dreams Over the Pines.
“I wanted to make a piece where it felt peaceful and a place where I could go and enjoy the view,” she explained. “I got the idea pretty quickly while thinking of what I wanted to paint next.”
Sands said the painting took about 10 hours to complete and having her artwork displayed in the exhibit has been a proud moment.
“It made me feel good to know that people like my art and that it can be admired,” she said.
For the ACT Art Gallery, the exhibition is an opportunity to highlight creative learning and celebrate community.
“Giving students a professional gallery space to display their works sends a strong message that their voices matter and connects the future generation of young creatives to the broader community,” said Russ Brummer, manager of arts, culture, and events for the City of Maple Ridge. “Visitors have shared positive remarks of admiration and appreciation for the perspective these young artists have shared.”
The spring exhibition features artwork by SD42 students from Garibaldi Secondary, Maple Ridge Secondary, Pitt Meadows Secondary, Samuel Robertson Technical, Thomas Haney Secondary and Westview Secondary.
Next Generation: Art by SD42 Secondary Students runs until Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the ACT Art Gallery (11944 Haney Place, Maple Ridge).
Gallery hours are Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free admission.
