2023 Grandparent Portrait Show

The 2023 Grandparent Portrait Show is the eighth of a series of biennial exhibitions of secondary school student artwork to communities of the greater Santa Barbara area served by the Student Art Fund. The works pay tribute to the artists’ grandparents in a variety of media, including drawings, paintings, sculptures, photographs, and assemblage.

The Grandparent Portrait Project began to connect students with their family roots. Having students focus on their grandparents is a way of strengthening those connections, and of inspiring the students with the hopes and aspirations that these grandparent figures have for them. Some students enjoy the direct interaction with their grandparents. Others meet their grandparents for the first time through photos and family discussions while preparing for this exhibition.

Working under the guidance of their art teachers, young artists created nearly 300 portraits in a variety of media for consideration. From these submissions, 157 were selected for the exhibition.

The art programs in the public schools are perhaps where students from the widest diversity in the Santa Barbara population participate equally. The Grandparent Portrait assignment has been a favorite of public school art teachers for over a decade because, in addition to the opportunity to use any media, students are invited to explore the cultures of their families to find source material for their portraits, as well as to engage with grandparents who live in the community. Public comments always express surprise at the racial and cultural diversity expressed in the portraits, as well as the displayed excellence of our public school art programs. Teachers have heard that these portraits stay in the families and become heirlooms.

The Grandparent Portrait Show Schedule:

The exhibition will be on display at the Faulkner Gallery at the Santa Barbara Public Library at 40 E. Anapamu Street, from April 5th through April 27th. Visit the online gallery for the 2023 Grandparent Portrait Show here to view this year’s featured artworks.

Awards of Merit for eighteen outstanding entries were announced at the Family Reception on Friday, April 7 from 5:30 – 7:00 PM in the Faulkner Gallery. These awards are designated through a selection process that includes SAF Committee members—many are retired art teachers—and a professional juror. The juror for the 2023 Grandparent Portrait show is Nicole Strasburg who selected thirteen award-winning portraits and four honorable mentions. You can view the award winners here.