Youth Peer Mentors
The Mentoring Young Artists program provides aspiring artists with hands-on experience facilitating creative engagements within a contemporary art space and mentorship participation in an informal learning environment designed for youth (ages 5 and up) and their families. As part of their experiential learning, Peer Mentors gain exposure to the local artist community by attending art events, such as gallery openings, open mics, and artist talks. This program offers opportunities to build professional skills and relationships with experienced artists, educators, and staff members while supporting our goal to increase access to the arts for young people living in and around North Omaha.
Meet Akira
Akira Irwin has always been passionate about working with youth. Inspired by their mother, an artist, Akira has been creating art for as long as they can remember. They primarily use epoxy sculpt and acrylics to explore themes of destruction and human nature, building and breaking down their art to reflect on the complexities of life. Akira views art as a way to speak the unspoken and ignite important conversations. During their time at The Union, Akira hopes to help youth strengthen their relationships and build confidence in their creative abilities.
Meet Brielynn
Brielynn Benton is an artist who embraces experimentation, working across 2D and 3D mediums to transform imagination into vibrant expressions of thought and feeling. Since joining The Union’s Mentoring Young Artists program in Fall 2022, they have been honing their ability to inspire and support youth in discovering their voices through art. Passionate about fostering connections and creating a positive environment, Brielynn aims to encourage others to explore the limitless possibilities of artistic expression and uncover their own values through creativity.
Meet Grace
Grace DeVries has always been passionate about working with youth and hopes to create a lasting impact, much like her mentors did for her. She works primarily with pottery and is influenced by her artistic family. Grace’s art often incorporates symbolism that reflects her personal experiences, both challenges and moments of joy, and she enjoys using unexpected objects in her pottery. She sees art as a powerful tool for self-expression and a way to connect with others beyond words. During her time at The Union, Grace aims to be the mentor she needed and inspire youth to discover their own passions.
Meet Isaac
Isaac Castro is a first-year youth mentor with a passion for helping others express themselves through art. Inspired by his everyday life, Isaac draws from conversations, memories, emotions, and even the simplest observations like the shape of a cloud to fuel his creative process. He believes that art is an unspoken language that should evoke emotion, made from the soul and appreciated by those who connect with it. Isaac hopes to inspire youth to explore their creativity and express themselves in multiple ways, while gaining valuable mentorship experience that aligns with his goal of becoming a teacher or mentor in the future.
Meet Kyrell
Kyrell Dixon is a first year mentoring youth artist with a gift for drawing. Kyrell's art is influenced by a wide range of media, including cartoons, comics, anime, manga, and movies, with a focus on noir, dramatic angles, and stark black-and-white contrasts. They primarily use graphite pencils to create striking works that explore exaggerated perspectives. Kyrell believes art is a powerful form of communication, offering a way to share personal stories with others. At The Union, Kyrell hopes to inspire and motivate youth to embrace their individuality and have fun expressing themselves through art.
Meet Leah
Leah Font-Gabel is an artist inspired by social justice, queer identity, self-love, and the beauty of shared human experiences. Drawing on mediums such as ceramics, mixed media, photography, and fashion, Leah’s favorite practices include sewing and upcycling clothing to create personalized designs. Since joining the Mentoring Young Artists program in Fall 2022, Leah has enjoyed learning from youth and fostering creativity through collaboration. Leah is dedicated to empowering young people to tell their stories through art. They see art as a garden, where each creation plants seeds for diverse interpretations and imaginations to flourish.
Meet Priscilla
Priscilla Price, the oldest of five siblings, has always taken on the role of guiding and nurturing the creativity of those around her. Her art has been deeply influenced by her father, maternal grandfather, and uncle, each with their own unique artistic expressions. Priscilla’s work is inspired by anything that moves her, from vibrant and loud to moody and calm, with a particular fascination for creatures and the unexplained. Drawing and sketching are central to her creative process. During her time at The Union, Priscilla hopes to help youth use art as a form of release and personal growth, offering them a way to express themselves as she once did.
Meet Scar
Scar Taylor is excited to learn how to inspire a passion for art in youth. Their art style is influenced by comics and family, often working with pen to create interesting still lifes. Scar enjoys using various shading techniques to evoke different emotions in their pieces, aiming to bring a childlike perspective through the use of colors. They believe art is a visual displacement of knowledge, whether personal or shared. During their time at The Union, Scar hopes to connect with youth and colleagues through art, encouraging everyone to embrace their true selves and find happiness.
