A student art exhibition featuring works from young artists across the Virgin Islands will open Saturday evening at Prosperity Farm Distillery on St. Croix, 81C Arts announced in a press release.
The “Student Art Show 2026,” presented by 81C Arts, will debut on St. Croix from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday. The opening event is free and open to the public, with gallery hours continuing daily at no cost, according to the press release.
The exhibition previously ran from January through March at 81C’s St. Thomas location and now continues as a traveling showcase of student work developed through Virgin Islands art programs, the press release stated.
The show includes pieces from students in 81C Arts’ Expression Through the Arts summer program, digital animations from the DigiLocal after-school program, and selected works from students across the community, the release stated.
Artwork spans multiple forms, including painting, poetry, and digital media. Many pieces are paired with poetry created through an ekphrastic process, where students responded to each other’s work. Other works feature blackout poetry created from pages of “The Great Gatsby,” allowing students to reinterpret text through visual expression, the release stated.
A portion of the exhibition focuses on self-portraiture, using color, symbolism, and language to explore identity and self-perception, the release stated.
In advance of the opening, 81C will host a live figure sketching session, “The Study by Art House,” on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the distillery. Tickets are $25 and include art supplies, the release stated.
“Our focus is creating meaningful, accessible experiences across exhibitions, education, and public programming,” said Zack Zook of 81C. “Our collaborations with Art House and Prosperity Farm Distillery reflect how we expand and sustain that access through thoughtful, community-driven partnerships.”
