Oyster Bay High School artist Ava DeAngelis wows judges at the Art Guild’s 2023 Nassau County High School Student Juried Art Competition & Exhibition

It was a gut-wrenching feeling that I wanted to portray through that strange body. I like for my pieces to speak to me and to others.”

Ava DeAngelis, senior, Oyster Bay High School

Ava DeAngelis’ first foray into the realm of art began with finger painting, a vehicle, she said, that led her to express an early passion for art. As she matured, the lifelong Oyster Bay resident could be found carrying a sketchbook filled with her drawings.

Now, as one of the best artists at Oyster Bay High School, she has received recognition for her talent and hard work. DeAngelis, 17, was honored in the Art Guild’s 2023 Nassau County High School Student Juried Art Competition & Exhibition earning second place among 260 submissions.

“Ava is one of the most gifted art students I ever had. She’s phenomenal,” said Maria Randazzo, one of DeAngelis’ art teachers at OBHS. “She tries out new mediums and excels at it and is an amazing storyteller. And she is willing to take chances.”

DeAngelis was awarded $200 for her cut paper 13×16 piece entitled “A Pearl.” The requirement for the contest was to create a piece based on another work of art.

“I saw a wooden sculpture that was all twisted and I don’t know why, but I was drawn to reimagine it,” the high school senior said. “I wanted to play with 3-D elements.”

She created a “mini paper theater,” laying out layers of paper stacking them to create a 3-D picture.

“I named it ‘A Pearl,’ because when you put it under pressure it becomes beautiful,” she said. “There was anguish in that wooden sculpture and that’s what I wanted to go with. It was a gut-wrenching feeling that I wanted to portray through that strange body. I like for my pieces to speak to me and to others.”

She worked on her piece for roughly a week often working until 2 a.m. What was most important, she said, was to get it right.

Randazzo said the piece was all DeAngelis’s idea, who wanted to represent a twisted body in confinement.

“She saw artists doing paper theater to understand how to create depth with that material,” Randazzo said. “It’s something I wish I could do. We’ve told her she’ll succeed in many avenues if she pursues art.”

DeAngelis said the judges initially thought she had made the piece on an iPad or a digital art website. When they found out it was made from cut paper, DeAngelis said they were “blown away,” commenting on the dreamy effect the overlay created.

“I started with a lot of sketching and then moved on to tracing paper to create the same image. Then I cut out each body piece and then cut out the silhouette and then cut into the construction paper,” she explained. “Then I decided where to build up the construction paper. It was my first time working with an X-Acto knife.”

The process was overwhelming at first, she said, especially considering her time limit. But she said she would do it again.

“Everyone who sees it loves it,” DeAngelis said. “The other winner told me I can’t believe you cut this out, all the details are so impressive. It was so heartwarming for me to hear her say that.”

DeAngelis said she loves to jump between mediums and loves 2D drawing. And she prefers to use different kinds of paint, including acrylic, oil and gouache. What she also enjoys is sharing her art with her teachers, whether it be a new project or something she is creating.

Randazzo, who has worked at OBHS for a decade, said DeAngelis is a quick learner. She tried oil painting this year for the first time and Randazzo said her work is similar to what someone would create with 20 years of experience.

DeAngelis, Randazzo said, also possesses leadership skills. She has worked on the high school plays as lead artist, as a stage manager and this year hopes to be cast in a play.

“She is a kind and natural leader,” Randazzo said. “Her personality traits and talent would work in any field.”

DeAngelis is now applying to colleges. She’s hoping to be accepted to the University of Chicago, which she said is beautiful. Her consideration of colleges may differ from other students in some ways. For her, when choosing colleges she looks for intricate architecture.

It’s the first time DeAngelis won for her artistic talent. But although she loves creating art, she isn’t planning for it to be her career. For now, she isn’t certain what she will pursue, although she admit she enjoys chemistry. Whatever she chooses to pursue one thing is certain, DeAngelis said. Art will always be her hobby.