The exhibition celebrates the 21st anniversary of the program, recognizing the arts and creativity of New York City public school students

Exhibition Dates: June 13–October 22, 2023
Location: The Met Fifth Avenue, Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education

(New York, June 13, 2023)—The Metropolitan Museum of Art will host the 21st-anniversary edition of P.S. Art 2023: Celebrating the Creative Spirit of NYC Kids, a juried exhibition of artwork by prekindergarten through grade 12 students from New York City public schools across all five boroughs. The display marks the 16th consecutive P.S Art exhibition hosted by the Museum and will be on view from June 13 through October 22, 2023, at The Met Fifth Avenue in the Ruth and Harold D. Uris Center for Education. There will be an opening ceremony for students, parents, and teachers at 5 pm, with remarks at 5:30 pm, on Tuesday, June 13, during the city’s Museum Mile Festival.

The exhibition will feature 122 works chosen from over 1,200 submissions spanning mediums including painting, mixed-media, and sculpture. The works were selected by a panel of distinguished members of the New York City art community, including contemporary artist Lorna Simpson and staff at The Met. The selection of artworks represent students’ vision and voice, demonstrating their creativity and observation through various mediums.

P.S. Art 2023: Celebrating the Creative Spirit of NYC Kids is a project of the New York City Department of Education and Studio in a School NYC.

“Exhibiting student art continues to be an important way to nurture and encourage these young arts and showcase the city’s incredible creative spirit,” said Heidi Holder, Frederick P. and Sandra P. Rose Chair of Education at The Met. “Through this exhibition we see self-expression, inspiring cultural perspectives, and critical examinations of our changing world. We are proud to play a role in championing the City’s next generation of artists, and the schools, teachers, families, and communities that inspire and support them.”

In conjunction with the exhibition, Times Square Advertising Coalition (TSAC) will host a four-day digital art presentation showcasing 48 of the works in the show, displaying digital reproductions of the artworks on OUTFRONT’s iconic screen, The Cube, on 2 Times Square in Duffy Square. The kick-off event is scheduled for June 22, featuring remarks by city officials and student artists. The selected artworks in Times Square will be featured twice per hour through July 6.

David C. Banks, Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education, said: “I am thrilled to see the incredible creativity and talent of our student artists showcased in one of the most prestigious museums in the world. This is a testament to the power of art education and the importance of nurturing the next generation of artistic visionaries. I have no doubt that these young artists will continue to make a profound impact on the art world and beyond.”

Alison Scott-Williams, President, Studio in a School NYC, LLC, added: “P.S. Art 2023 celebrates the transformative power of art education, nurturing young minds to dream and explore. As New York City’s school communities continue recovering from the lasting impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the visual arts provide children with vital opportunities for social and emotional growth. On behalf of Studio in a School, I want to congratulate the student artists in this year’s show for their inspiring artworks and outstanding achievements. With heartfelt gratitude, we extend our appreciation to The Met and the NYC Department of Education for their exceptional partnership in producing this exhibition annually.”

In support of fostering the creativity and education of New York City students, The Met will provide admission passes to the Museum to all student artists represented in the exhibition to encourage them to return frequently during the run of the show. In addition, each year the Met provides free visits to more than 88,000 New York City public school students, and more than 1,000 New York City public school teachers and administrators participate in professional development workshops at the Museum.

All of the works in the exhibition will also be featured on The Met website, as well as on social media using the hashtag #PSArt2023.