As a response to the MFA’s call for art for "Portraits of Leadership," artists of all ages from Dorchester to Seoul have submitted portraits, totaling over 2,600 works. Teens from Curatorial Study Hall, an internship program teaching young adults various museum practices, were given the tremendous responsibility of curating these submissions. Working together, they identified and explored six themes—narratives and storytelling, families, memorials, activists, fame, and artistic expression—each section distinguished by different color coding.

Curated by Joshua Alsaindor, Everett High School, junior; Brianna Medrano, John D O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science, sophomore; Jalil Presley Rogers, Cristo Rey Boston, sophomore; Hannah Nguyen, Randolph High School, senior; Iyla Lara, Edward M Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, sophomore; Sophia Shatzky, Brookline High School, junior.

When you think of “activists” and “politicians,” you may think about great leaders like Barack Obama or Martin Luther King Jr., or about young people like Greta Thunberg, the teenage climate change activist, and Malala Yousafzai, the feminist activist from Pakistan. Some people only think about leaders from the past, or about professional politicians. But many of these activists, who organize and act to change public policy, can also inspire us to be our own leaders.

—Jalil Presley Rogers, Cristo Rey Boston, sophomore

Curated by Jalil Presley Rogers, Cristo Rey Boston, sophomore.

How would you write your own story? Or even someone else’s? This installation spotlights stories about family, friends, and fictional characters. Artists of all backgrounds have used text—collaged, written, or printed—to characterize their ideas of leaders. Portraits of Lt. Benny White and Elle Woods tell different, yet meaningful, stories about leaders. The people we make heroes reflect the ideals we value in the past, present, or future.

We all hold stories close to our hearts, whether they are our own, from family members, or from characters in movies or books. Each portrait here gives us a short story about a leader in the artist’s life.

—Sophia Shatzky, Brookline High School, junior

Curated by Sophia Shatzky, Brookline High School, junior.

Scanning the various portraits of unfamiliar faces, you may wonder, “Who is this? Who are they?” Upon closer inspection, you will notice a pattern in the inscriptions: “My friend.” “My mentor.” “Self-portrait.”

This installation is dedicated to everyday heroes and the heroes in all of us, showcasing and memorializing the leaders right under our noses. With works by artists of all ages and from all backgrounds—from self-portraits to portraits of loved ones—we get to see a glimpse of someone else’s daily life. Think of whom the artists chose to depict. See yourself on this wall.

—Hannah Nguyen, Randolph High School, senior

Curated by Hannah Nguyen, Randolph High School, senior.

Curated by Joshua Alsaindor, Everett High School, junior; Brianna Medrano, John D O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science, sophomore; Jalil Presley Rogers, Cristo Rey Boston, sophomore; Hannah Nguyen, Randolph High School, senior; Iyla Lara, Edward M Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, sophomore; Sophia Shatzky, Brookline High School, junior.

Curated by Joshua Alsaindor, Everett High School, junior; Brianna Medrano, John D O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science, sophomore; Jalil Presley Rogers, Cristo Rey Boston, sophomore; Hannah Nguyen, Randolph High School, senior; Iyla Lara, Edward M Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, sophomore; Sophia Shatzky, Brookline High School, junior.

A Black woman standing proudly in her home. A young mom feeding her baby. A man affectionately holding his cat. These portraits of leadership, many of which highlight people and families of color, represent safety. People find sanctuary, places where they can be themselves, in their homes with their families, which includes pets and chosen family members. The artists who submitted these portraits felt strongly about the people they’ve drawn or photographed. We can feel the warmth of these emotional works, the sense of belonging in a community.

—Brianna Medrano, John D O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science, sophomore

Curated by Brianna Medrano, John D O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science, sophomore.
 

When you think of a portrait, you might envision a formal picture of someone sitting or standing in a calm, modest pose. Here you will not find that! Collages, abstractions, and all-over compositions created with tissue paper, origami, magazine clippings, pastel, watercolor, and paint fill this section. There are trees, fields, and fantasy lands. The artists placed a personal spin on picturing “leaders." They did not make traditional portraits. Instead, they use many different methods to make loose, tactile images about what “leadership” is to them. Young and old minds have a place here, and all ideas are welcome.

—Iyla Lara, Edward M Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, sophomore

Curated by Iyla Lara, Edward M Kennedy Academy for Health Careers, sophomore.

What or who comes to mind when you think about famous people or places? The word “famous” usually refers to a person celebrated for their great accomplishments or to a place that many of us could recognize. But fame is subjective—it comes in a variety of forms and sizes and depends on our interpretations and experiences. The works of art here show artists, musicians, religious figures, people who impacted history, and more. These different perspectives can challenge our expectations, showing us new ways to think about fame.

—Joshua Alsaindor, Everett High School, junior

Curated by Joshua Alsaindor, Everett High School, junior.