The 2023 Teen Stylin’: Illusion program featured fifty-six designers in grades six through twelve who participated in the May 7, 2023 Teen Stylin’: Illusion Runway Show. The garments featured the following winners:
- Samari Jones, 6-8 Grade Winner, Best Model (Design by Amaya Zaslow)
- Estelle Shipp, 9-12 Grade Winner, Best Model (Design by Kiersten Knight)
- Emma Herzog, Design Winner, Jurors’ Choice Award
- Adelina Babbit, Design Winner, Jurors’ Choice Award
- MJ Waruguru, Design Winner, Jurors’ Choice Award
- Amaya Zaslow, 6-8 Design Winner, Best Use of Alternative Materials
- Iris McFarlane, 6-8 Winner, Most Creative Construction
- Juno Taffs, 6-8 Winner, Best Interpretation of an Artwork
- Carson Webb, 6-8 Winner, Best Interpretation of the Theme: Illusion
- Gracen Long, 9-12 Winner, Best Use of Alternative Materials
- Kiersten Knight, 9-12 Winner, Most Creative Construction
- Jayda Brown, 9-12 Winner, Best Interpretation of an Artwork
- Grace Walker, 9-12 Winner, Best Interpretation of the Theme: Illusion
- Anais Wojtysiak, 6-12 Winner, Most Wearable
- Devlyn Carmichael, 6-12 Winner, Best Overall
Held annually, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Teen Stylin’ program challenges students with a passion for clothing design, studio arts, installation art, and creative construction to make a unique, wearable work of art. Participants worked for twelve weeks, from February to May, with local fashion designers and studio arts instructors to construct garments inspired by objects from the VMFA collection. Participants could either participate during on-campus weekly workshops or as part of the independent study program. Teen Stylin’ culminates with a runway exhibition featuring students’ designs.
Following the runway exhibition, the fashion renderings of all Teen Stylin’ participants and the winning garments were displayed in VMFA’s Art Education Center.
This year’s theme, Illusion, inspired students to transform materials that are available to them in the studio and their surroundings in innovative and unexpected ways.
Photos by Sandra Sellars© Virginia Museum of Fine Arts | Teen Stylin’ Illusion exhibition gallery views, June 2023.
2023 Teen Stylin’ Participants
Abbie Armstrong, Adelina Babbit, Ella Bingham, Madi Bradshaw, Sydney Brewer, Jayda Brown, Devlyn Carmichael, Lily Castillo, Cameron Coats, Hazel Cummins, Janiah Dottin-Carter, Kay Epps-Wagstaff, Natalie Ferlazzo, Adrienne Franke, Tabitha Gutierrez, Emma Herzog, Ven Jahn, Gretchen Jones, Karen-Elaine Kay, Kiersten Knight, Charlie Lawson, Zyon Lincoln, Lautaro Lo Prete, Gracen Long, Caitlin Lookingbill, Carrington Mack, Evie Maddux, Lucy Mark, Lauren Martyn, Iris McFarlane, Faith McKann, Vane Medina Borges, Ari Miller, Laura Monger, Kaia Patel, Isabella Piedy, Ana Reveles Leon, Julia Rhamy, Maia Robinson, Riva Samee, Senbete Shaffer, Livya Shah, Rosemary Small, Lucy Smith, Angelina Som, Emma Strange, Juno Taffs, JaNiya Ari Troublefield, Grace Walker, MJ Waruguru, Coco Wayne, Carson Webb, Darby Wiley, Kai Kai Wilson, Anais Wojtysiak, Amaya Zaslow
Visit VMFA’s website to learn more about teen programs at the museum: www.vmfa.museum/teens/