Avon Prep School Hosts Regional Student Art Show

AVON, CT — Avon Old Farms School is hosting its eighth annual regional student art exhibition, bringing together work from middle and high school artists across central Connecticut.

The show, titled “Stories Untold,” opened April 23 and features pieces from students representing more than a dozen schools, including Avon Middle School, Avon High School, Conard High School (West Hartford), Farmington High School, Hall High School (West Hartford), Kingswood Oxford School (West Hartford), Miss Porter’s School (Farmington), and Westminster School (Simsbury), among others.

The exhibition is on display at the Ordway Art Gallery inside the Brown Student Center at 500 Old Farms Road and is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. through May 3. Admission is free.

Cristina Pinton, chair of the school’s art department and organizer of the exhibit, said the theme highlights both student creativity and the broader support system behind arts education.

“It is about more than just the incredible talent on these walls; it’s a nod to the commitment we all share—as teachers, parents, and friends—to show up for these kids and keep arts programs thriving across the country,” Pinton said.

The opening reception drew students, families, educators, including representatives from the Hartford Art School, and local art enthusiasts.

Students said the exhibit offered a chance to connect with peers and share their work. Dharini Luthra, a ninth-grader at Conard High School, described the collection as diverse and expressive.

“The exhibit is beautiful. Every piece has its own personality. There are eight billion people in the world with eight billion different perspectives, and I think this show really captures that,” Luthra said.

Luthra contributed a still-life oil painting inspired by a candlelit scene in her home. “I tried to capture that memory,” she said, adding that the piece marked her first experience working with oil paints. “It was my first time with this medium, so I was pleasantly surprised it got selected for this show.”

Another student, Bowen Lightner, a junior at Avon Old Farms from Simsbury, showcased a hand-carved wooden bowl created in an advanced woodworking class. “I wanted to create something I could gift to her,” Lightner said of the piece, which he made for his mother.

Lightner said he hopes the exhibit encourages others to explore hands-on artistic work. “I hope people see it and decide to try their hand at woodworking,” he said.

For more information on the exhibit, click on this link.