Briarcliff High School is proud to announce that junior Victoria Xu is the recipient of the National Silver Key Award for her oil painting entitled, “The City that Never Sleeps.” Last year, she received a Regional Silver Key for another city scene in oils.
The talented student creates her works using a variety of mediums including pencils, pastels, charcoal, and oil paint. In addition to studying under Roxanne Ritacco at BHS, Victoria is enrolled in Artistic Minds, an art school in Connecticut. She particularly enjoys practicing portraitures and city scenes.
Besides being skilled in drawing and painting, Victoria plays the piano and violin. She also works as a teacher’s assistant, helping young students at Artistic Minds. In college, Victoria plans to pursue a degree in fine art.
The National Silver Key Award for art is a component of The Scholastic, Inc. Art and Writing Program. This program has grown to become the longest-running recognition program for creative teens in the country. Previous winners have included Andy Warhol, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Richard Avedon, Robert Redford, Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen King, and John Updike. Students in grades 7-12 can apply in any of 28 different categories of art and writing for the chance to earn scholarships and have their works exhibited or published. Judges look for works that best exemplify originality, technical skill and a personal voice or vision.