Aurora Opens Winter Garden Exhibit Showcasing 170 Young Artists

The Winter Garden of Youth K-12 Art Exhibit debuted on December 5, 2025, in downtown Aurora, Illinois, showcasing the creative talents of over 170 students from 38 local schools. The annual event, held at the David L. Pierce Art and History Center, aims to celebrate and elevate young artists within the community.

At the opening night, Teresa Flores expressed her pride as her daughter, Kalila, a third-grader, displayed her artwork. “Her art was chosen from her art class at school,” Flores remarked. “It’s a really proud moment and a beautiful thing to see that they have all this amazing work here from the schools. To see the kids express themselves in this format is amazing.”

City communications manager Jon Zaghloul noted the exhibit’s popularity, describing it as “one of the most popular exhibits each year for Aurora Public Art.” He emphasized the importance of showcasing diverse artistic talents, stating, “It’s a cool way to bring the community together and celebrate our youth and their artistic talents.”

Expanding Artistic Horizons

Curator Sangeeta Pande highlighted that submissions typically range from 100 to 200 each year, reflecting the eagerness of students to participate. For the first time, contributions came from the Illinois Math and Science Academy, showcasing a unique perspective on art that intersects with engineering and science. “You can see a distinct shift in the way their perception of art is as opposed to the normal perception of art,” Pande noted.

To broaden participation, Pande undertook a dedicated recruitment effort to ensure every public and private school in the area was informed about the exhibit. “I took it upon myself to approach every school and say here, this is going on, please give this information to the art teacher,” she said.

Community Response and Impact

Cecilia Zepeda, a visitor at the exhibit, reflected on the significance of showcasing young artists. “It’s wonderful. I remember when I was a student I was in the arts and it’s really nice seeing all these little budding artists and parents who are super proud of what they do,” she stated. “It’s important that their work gets shown.”

The exhibit also features work from students at Rosary College Prep, with instructor Lauren Hansford noting that four of her students had their art displayed. “They were very eager to show their work, and this platform is really special,” Hansford remarked. She shared her own connection to the exhibit, having participated as a student in her youth. “It’s a good time to show the kids that their work is supposed to be elevated. It’s supposed to be shown.”

The Winter Garden of Youth K-12 Art Exhibit will remain open until January 17, 2025. Gallery hours are from noon to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. This initiative not only allows students to display their work but also fosters a sense of community pride and support for the arts in Aurora.