Prep for Prep Opens Inaugural Art Gallery at 71st Street Brownstone

Tuesday, May 12 marked a groundbreaking moment for the Prep for Prep community. More than one hundred students, alumni, staff, families, and friends gathered at the 71st Street Brownstone to celebrate the opening of the inaugural Prep for Prep Art Gallery. The exhibition features 22 multimedia works by 12 student artists alongside eight pieces by six alumni artists. The artworks span the genres of photography, painting, knitting, and more.

Prep for Prep CEO Diahann Billings (VI/Grace Church, Poly Prep, Yale) JD, Columbia, spoke about the inspiration behind the exhibit: "[The library] was probably the room with the most kind of character....I thought, wow, we could take this opportunity to give our home more character while also ensuring that young artists who submitted work could walk into this space and feel seen and valued for who they are and how they see themselves. I’m incredibly proud of this moment because I think we’ve accomplished that."

King David, David Rampersad Jr. (XXIX/Dalton, Gettysburg), co-leader of the Prep in Arts alumni affinity group, expressed gratitude to the Alumni Affairs Team and the broader alumni community for supporting the vision behind the exhibition: “Your work makes this whole place feel much more alive than it ever has. It’s amazing to see [the art gallery] come to fruition.”

Four students were awarded the Prep in Arts Prize, each receiving $250 to support their future artistic endeavors. Upon reviewing the overall artistic technique and originality of the works, the Prep in Arts jury selected four exceptional pieces to be prominently displayed throughout the Brownstone lobby. The prizes were fully funded by Prep in Arts.

Salif K. (P9 XLII/Collegiate), one of the four recipients of the Prep in Art Prize, reflected on his artistic process: "I ended up deciding to paint how it felt while I was painting. I really loved it. It was freeing.”