AP and IB: A Dual Path to Artistic Excellence

Two programs. Two approaches. One incredible showcase of talent. This year’s High School AP and IB Art Exhibition brought together the best of both pathways, resulting in a dynamic celebration of creativity, innovation, and critical thinking. 

Set in the purpose-built exhibition space of our STEAM Design Center, the recent AP and IB Art Exhibition was truly a testament to our school’s commitment to the arts. Each student is required to take at least one arts credit before graduating, and there is a wide range of courses to explore.

Students with a passion for the visual arts go on to pursue a range of alternatives within the AP or IB pathway. Although both offer rigorous, college-level instruction designed to challenge and inspire, the two tracks feature different approaches, structures, and emphases. 

With small class sizes and access to professional materials, students receive personalized support as they develop their voices and portfolios. Mr. Nomer Adona, a former architect turned art teacher, brings deep knowledge of both AP and IB curricula. Like his fellow SSIS high school art teachers, Aura Evans and Nate Larson, Mr. Adona brings an unwavering commitment to guiding students through their unique creative journeys.

“This exhibition is a celebration of choice and creative journey. Our IB Visual Arts students have curated their displays, selecting works that best express their thematic and stylistic approaches,” shared Mr. Adona. “Each piece is a deliberate decision, criteria-based, but marking a milestone in their artistic path. Our AP Art and Design students, on the other hand, share their sustained investigations, guided by personal inquiry. Every work reflects exploration, reflection, and the unique journey each artist has taken.”

Distinct Pathways, Shared Excellence in Artistic Expression

One-year AP Visual Arts courses, such as Studio Art, Drawing, 2-D or 3-D Design, focus on inquiry, design principles, and image development. In contrast, IB Visual Arts is a two-year program emphasizing context, methods, and communication. 

While AP art leans more toward studio production, IB art focuses more on conceptual development and cultural exploration. Both pathways offer students a comprehensive approach to explore art, build artistic skills across various media, sharpen their critical and creative thinking, develop strong technical foundations, and ultimately find their unique voice as artists. Both pathways result in high-caliber artworks that reflect depth, intention, and skill. 

This year’s exhibition featured a stunning range of pieces that examined concepts of identity, memory, culture, and the natural world, from large-scale mixed-media portraits to sculpture to cyanotype prints, demonstrating both depth and breadth of exploration. Visitors moved through the gallery, examining both the students’ creative expressions and their deeply reflective written insights.

More Than Medium: Art as a Pathway to Self and Story

While science, technology, engineering, and math remain cornerstones of innovation, the arts bring these disciplines to life. Art fosters empathy, communication, and the kind of creative problem-solving that’s driving evolving professions. That’s why SSIS is making STEAM—not just STEM—a major focus. SSIS also approaches learning holistically, concepts and experiences seamlessly crossing subject areas to make learning tangible and relevant. 

IB Visual Arts student Manon shared that she found the inspiration for her theme in her IB Language and Literature class. Studying the narrative power of comics led her to reflect on the complexities and conflicts of her own Vietnamese identity. Manon brainstormed key aspects of Vietnamese culture to represent facets of her identity. She ultimately chose to unify her art pieces with one material – chiếu cói – used to make traditional woven mats. For Manon, these mats, once common in Vietnamese households, symbolize familial love.

Closing the Art Year with Purpose and Perspective

At SSIS, the arts are an essential part of how we think, learn, and grow. With purpose-built spaces and dedicated educators, we’ve created an environment where creativity is nurtured and deeply valued across all disciplines.

Whether designing interactive installations or experimenting with eco-friendly materials, students are encouraged to explore ideas with curiosity and confidence, making meaningful connections that extend well beyond the classroom. Art isn’t an extra; it’s foundational for reflective, future-ready learning.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the AP and IB Art Show, where student work demonstrates not only technical skill and creative vision but also the kind of interdisciplinary thinking that defines a truly modern education. It’s a powerful reminder of what’s possible when students are given the space, resources, and encouragement to express who they are and what they care about.