Calling all Rhode Island student artists! Ocean View is a competition and exhibition that encourages youth to interpret the ocean through visual art. Students in grades kindergarten through high school are encouraged to participate.
Ocean View Art Exhibition
There were close to 300 pieces of artwork submitted to this year’s competition! Our judges had their work cutout for them; the artistic talent of our RI youth is outstanding.
Thank you and congratulations to all who participated!
2025 Winners
See the names and artwork of our 2025 winners:
Ocean View at the Art League RI Gallery
- Exhibition dates: April 5 – April 27
- Gallery hours: Fri-Sun | 2:00 – 5:00 PM
- Location: Art League RI, 80 Fountain St, Suite 107A, Pawtucket
- Parking: Back of the building, enter through the loading dock
Division K-12
- 3rd Place: Maverick Schillaci (Kindergarten), Coventry- Hungry Ocean
- 2nd Place: Alexandra Bivona Matlach (1st Grade), Lincoln- A Family Under the Ocean
- 1st Place: Wesley Stephens (2nd Grade), Cranston- Swishing Stingers
Division 3-5
- 3rd Place: Bryan Brown (5th Grade), Portsmouth- Wings on the Water
- 2nd Place: Lillian Morgan (3rd Grade), West Warwick- All Along the Shores
- 1st Place: Nathaniel James Turshen (5th Grade), East Greenwich- The Ocean’s Beautiful Treasure
Division: 6-8
- 3rd Place: Eva Sofia Mitrovic (6th Grade), Cranston- Shellfie
- 2nd Place: Benjamin Stretter-Bridgham (6th Grade), North Kingstown- Undersea Life of Narragansett Bay
- 1st Place: Ellie Edelmann (6th Grade), Warwick- Extraordinary Wildlife
Division 9-12
- 3rd Place: Piper Light (9th Grade), South Kingstown- Summer Camp
- 2nd Place: Maya Parker (10th Grade), Westerly- Beach Nostalgia
- 1st Place: Madelyn Couto (10th Grade), Tiverton- Ocean Critters
2025 Theme
With 400 miles of coastline, Rhode Island is nicknamed The Ocean State. The URI Graduate School of Oceanography wants to know:
What does “The Ocean State” mean to you?
Use the prompts below to inspire your art piece.
As someone living in the Ocean State, show us through your artwork what it means to you!
- A favorite memory?
- An activity?
- Discovering new creatures?
- How will it look in the future?
- What is its past?
- Exploring below the water’s surface?
Eligibility
Rhode Island students in grades kindergarten through 12th are eligible to apply. Original artwork will be judged in four divisions:
- Grades K-2
- Grades 3-5
- Grades 6-8
- Grades 9-12
Winners from the four divisions will receive prizes to support their artistic development and ocean interest.
Rules
To participate in the competition and exhibition, a completed commitment form must be submitted by February 28, 2025. Contact information for an adult sponsor must be included in the commitment form.
Artist’s statement: all submissions must include a maximum 100-word statement that provides information on how you interpreted the theme through your artwork. A link to an online submission form will be provided in January.
Participants may submit one (1) original two-dimensional artwork. Pieces that will be accepted include but are not limited to:
- Drawing & Illustration
- Painting
- Mixed media and collage
- Photography
Visual art submissions can be no larger than 24” x 36”
Original artwork must be submitted, digital files or copies of artwork will not be accepted.
All submissions will be part of an exhibition at the Art League RI (Pawtucket) gallery from April 5 – April 27, 2025. More information on when and where to submit artwork will be shared with those who complete a commitment form.
The twelve award-winning original pieces of artwork will be framed and showcased at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) following the exhibition for at least one year. As part of this collection on display at GSO, your original artwork will be viewed by the public, students, staff, and faculty. After one year, you have the option to donate your artwork to GSO to continue to be displayed on campus.
Questions? Email agingras@uri.edu