High school students collaborate with local BIPOC artists to expand on themes from the “Giants” exhibition, expressing their perspectives on inequity, health, and healing

February 24, 2025

Minneapolis—The Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) is once again sharing a transformative program that supports high school students in exploring the intersection of systemic racism and dominant public health narratives through the medium of art. In its fourth year, Mia’s Teen Perspectives program empowers youth to reflect on systemic inequities and historical trauma, celebrate Black joy through art to enable healing, and ultimately create healthier Minnesota communities.

“For the past three years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside brilliant young artists who bring their lived experiences and creativity to Teen Perspectives,” said Anna Dilliard, Mia’s manager of programming. “This program is more than an opportunity to make art—it’s a space for teens to process, challenge, and reimagine the world around them. By engaging with this year’s theme, “Minneapolis as Monument,” and drawing inspiration from the “Giants” exhibition, students are shaping a vision of resilience, justice, and community that will resonate far beyond these gallery walls.”

During the seven-week program, 22 students learn from local teaching artists Lissa Karpeh, Leslie Barlow, Kprecia Ambers, Akiko Ostlund, and Graci Horne. The students will also attend a career day led by Bobby Rogers, head of design and editorial at Mia. The resulting works from Teen Perspectives will be displayed in Mia’s Community Commons Gallery from May 8 through July 20. 

Poignantly, as Minneapolis approaches the five-year commemoration of George Floyd’s murder, students will draw inspiration from “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys,” an exhibition opening at Mia on March 8. This powerful exhibition celebrates Black excellence and demonstrates how art can inspire societal change.  

“This program empowers students to embrace their individuality, address challenges, and draw strength from community as they navigate reflection and healing,” said Virajita Singh, Mia’s chief diversity and inclusion officer. “Supporting teens as they collaborate with arts educators, using creative expression to explore the intersection of racism and public health in Minnesota communities is crucial to changing narratives and biases that impact the health of our communities.”

Exhibition Details

• Exhibition Title: “Teen Perspectives: Minneapolis as Monument”
• Dates: May 10–July 20, 2025
• Location: Katherine Kierland Herberger Gallery, Community Commons First Floor, Minneapolis Institute of Art, 2400 Third Ave. South, Minneapolis, MN
• Cost: Free

For more information on Teen Perspectives and other upcoming exhibitions, visit www.artsmia.org.

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About the Minneapolis Institute of Art

Home to more than 100,000 works of art representing 7,000 years of world history, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) inspires wonder, spurs creativity, and nourishes the imagination. With extraordinary exhibitions and one of the finest art collections in the country—from all corners of the globe, from ancient to contemporary—Mia links the past to the present, enables global conversations, and offers an exceptional setting for inspiration.  Learn more about Mia in our latest Impact Report.

General admission to Mia is always free, but some special exhibitions charge a nominal fee.

For more information, call + 1 612 870 3000 or visit www.artsmia.org. Everyone is welcome. Always.