Buchholz High School student Gaia Kaye’s drawing was recently selected as one of 48 pieces of artwork chosen for inclusion in the prestigious Advanced Placement (AP) Art and Design Exhibit.

The exhibit, which is viewed annually by more than 250,000 people worldwide, went live last week and includes Kaye’s piece, “Lifeless Currents.” The drawing was created with colored pencils and watercolors and is a stylized self-portrait surrounded by waves of blue.

In Kaye’s description of the drawing, she said it represents “overwhelming feelings of emptiness and being engulfed in motion,” and was part of a sustained investigation into how self-perception affects people “emotionally, physically and spiritually,” according to an Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) press release. Kaye’s artwork is one of 19 selected for the drawing exhibit.

“AP Art and Design students consistently exhibit exceptional innovation and creativity through our inquiry-based curriculum,” said Trevor Packer, head of the AP program, in a news release from the organization. “Their artworks are a testament to their imaginative and creative prowess and leave a lasting impression on all who view them”

More than 80,000 students enrolled in AP 2D Art and Design, 3D Art and Design and AP Drawing courses worldwide submitted portfolios of their art for evaluation. Each portfolio included multiple pieces of art along with written information about their work. Panels of experts reviewed the portfolios and selected pieces for the exhibit.

“I didn’t realize how big it was at first until I started looking into it,” said Kaye in the ACPS release. “I thought showing my work at Buchholz’s Spring Art Show was as far as it would go. I never expected this to happen.”

Lindsey Lugrin, one of Kaye’s art teachers at Buchholz, said Kaye is very passionate about her work. 

“She always has a strong vision, is incredibly dedicated and always, always works hard to create the most beautiful work,” said Lurgin in the press release. “The students in class were in awe of how refined and precise her work was.”

Kaye credits her teachers for helping her expand her artistic horizons.

“When I started doing art, I really only used graphite (pencils),” she said. “It wasn’t until freshman year that I started working with colored pencils and watercolors, which I probably wouldn’t have done on my own. I didn’t feel confident enough with them, but my teachers told me it was time to start spreading into other mediums.”

Kaye’s plans to become a doctor. While not happy with the idea of leaving art behind, she also plans to combine art and medicine into a career.

“What I want to do is anaplastology, which is creating realistic prostheses for faces, fingers, that kind of thing,” she said. “That way I can mix a medical career, maybe in oncology, with art.”

Click here to view the entire Advanced Placement (AP) Art and Design Exhibit. Kaye’s drawing, along with a detailed description of it and statements from Lugrin and Buchholz principal Kevin Purvis, is available by clicking here.