Get ready to be inspired. The 30th annual High Energy exhibition at the Art Gallery of St. Albert is a vibrant celebration of youth creativity and imagination.
This year, the AGSA features more than 120 works from students at École Secondaire St. Albert Catholic High School, Paul Kane High School, and Bellerose Composite High School. The 2025 theme, Look Up and Marvel, challenged students to explore wonder and perspective in their art.
“It feels vibrant, fresh and exciting,” said AGSA curator Emily Baker. “You see some of the same project types year after year, but no two are the same. They’re really imaginative and creative.”
Popular subjects like music and sports celebrities, fantasy landscapes, and pop culture icons are once again front and centre. But this year, there's a noticeable rise in car and truck imagery—a shift Baker attributes to changing student demographics.
“They’ve become a thing,” she said. “Some schools have adjusted their programming because they’re getting more guys involved. It’s nice to see more young men taking an interest in art.”
Bellerose, as in past years, marked Black History Month through student artwork, with pieces celebrating figures like Zendaya, Nina Simone, and Tupac Shakur. Students also depicted drag queens, athletes, and musicians as part of a broader tribute to representation and identity.
Nature is another recurring motif, appearing in pieces that feature fluttering butterflies, astronauts wandering through jungles, and feathered dinosaurs approaching a moonlit stream.
Other works play with perspective and surrealism—distorted illusions, exaggerated cartoon figures, and even a headless, limbless, tattooed mannequin catch the eye.
Expect an explosion of colour across the exhibit. Even desert scenes burst with flaming golds, hot pinks, and vibrant blues.
“These students are really skilled. They make incredible things,” said Baker. “They’re passionate about their work, and it’s a privilege to check in on what they’re creating—it’s fun and important to celebrate that.”
The public is invited to the opening reception on Thursday, May 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. During the event, six Christopher Kazaleous Awards will be presented, including one Award of Excellence each for students in Grades 10, 11 and 12, and three awards for excellence in drawing, sculpture, and mixed media. Winners will receive a cash prize and have their work showcased at the Arden Theatre.
