The LEAP Middle School Initiative is an after-school program for middle school-aged artists who are interested in exploring contemporary art practices and mediums. This exhibition highlights work made over the past year by LEAP participants, during which Resident Teaching Artists (RTA) engaged students in painting, sculpture, and collage while teaching them how to convey personal identity through art. Fall RTA Jorge Rios worked with students to develop basic skills in two-dimensional representation through the use of drawing and water-based painting. These young artists also learned how to describe their work using foundational art history terminology. Capping off the semester, students had the opportunity to visit Katherine Bernhardt’s studio, where they made their own playful “pizza paintings.” Spring RTA Jen Everett used the 2022 Great Rivers Biennial exhibition as a conceptual starting point to help LEAP participants explore how different media can be used to convey complex messages and themes.

2022–23 LEAP artists include: Rosalie Allen, Amiyah Arend, Kingston Collins, Mackenzie Crump, Lily Deaton, Ruthy Fosdick, Norah Goetz, Ehron Gottfredsen, Fern Kanak, Mabel Kanak, Salem Lambert, Eddie Perez, and Benjamin Yates.

LEAP Middle School Initiative: Collage, Portraits, and Pizzas is organized for the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis by Brandon Barr, Teen and Adult Programs Manager.