Art has allowed students and artists to address issues and advocate for change they feel passionately about. Two AP art students, Fiona Dunn ‘25 and Shakira Seneviratne ‘26 have portrayed issues they are passionate about through beautiful works of art. Dunn focuses on the contrasts of nature and urbanization through her colorful landscapes with shadows of charcoal stains.  Seneviratne explores how beauty standards shape self-image by redefining traditional beauty standards through a Sri Lankan cultural lens, embracing her artistic identity. Both artists use different creative processes and inspiration to spark conversations and allow for a deeper understanding of societal and environmental issues.

Dunn creates art that illustrates human development and its effects on nature. Dunn uses different symbolic artistic elements, like a shadow to represent urbanization. Her work highlights how urbanization takes away from the beauty of nature through the smear of charcoal amidst the vibrant nature. Dunn hopes that her art can help people” conceptualize the consequences of urbanization” and understand the “impact of human existence on the environment.”

Dunn’s inspiration derives from buildings and city scenes that intrigue her. She says, “For my piece with the cityscape I knew I wanted to do like the city of Seattle was because some of the buildings were really cool, I wanted to include those.”

Seneviratne has redefined beauty standards through her art by reimagining them through a cultural lens. She integrates sari patterns into her art celebrating her South Asian Heritage, displaying a multifaceted and celebratory beauty of self-expression.  She describes her experience living in a country where the media promotes Eurocentric ideals and beauty standards. “Growing up, I did not always see South Asian beauty represented in mainstream media. Many beauty standards favored straight hair and simpler styles, which made me question my traditional looks, like sari patterns, bold jewelry, and natural hair textures that aren’t celebrated the same way.” Seneviratne even integrated into her art patterns from family memorabilia and heirlooms such as her aunt’s wedding sari and her mother’s bangles.  She hopes that her work “challenges beauty standards and spark thought.”

Both Dunn and Seneviratne address issues that bring attention to the environment and cultural identity. Through their art, they beautifully communicate how urbanization and beauty standards can impact the world we live in. Seneviratne touches on the importance of art especially considering social justice, saying, “It makes activism feel relatable and gives us a creative way to express our thoughts, encouraging others to think critically about these issues.”