Shady Side Academy junior Eliana Gagnon's artwork, entitled She Won't Be Dragged Down, has been selected for inclusion in The Andy Warhol Museum's Youth Art Exhibition: "Stay Woke." The exhibition will be unveiled to the public on Friday, March 16, from 5-10 p.m. during the museum's Youth Invasion event and will run through Friday, March 23.

"Once I heard about this exhibit, which specifically focuses on the theme of 'staying woke,' I knew that I wanted to enter a piece into it," said Gagnon. "My particular picture centers on female strength despite the societal oppression that still exists today. Despite being dragged down by society (the downward arrow outlines of the face), the woman's eyes show fearlessness and optimism."

The Warhol's Youth Arts Council chose "Stay Woke" as the theme for the Youth Art Exhibition, and its call for youth artists asked for work created in response to the current political climate, social justice issues, and activism from their point of view. The results spanned a range of schools, age groups, backgrounds and perspectives. Learn more about the Warhol exhibit.

Gagnon recently had four pieces of artwork on display in Chatham University's "Art as Survival: Creations of Black Youth" exhibit, which ran through Feb. 17. Read the Jan. 30 news story.

Congratulations, Eliana!

She Won't Be Dragged Down, by Eliana Gagnon