The annual “20 under 20” art competition, held by the Allen Arts Alliance, displays 20 works by Collin County artists under the age of 20 at the Blue House Too art gallery in Watters Creek.

The opening reception kicked off on Jan. 11, with the Allen Arts Alliance and Comerica Bank awarding monetary prizes to the top three finalists. The exhibit was open to the public from Jan. 12 to Jan. 28.

“20 under 20” is known for being a highly selective art competition for the emerging young artists of Collin County. The 2018 show had an astonishing 155 artists submit more than 380 pieces in a variety of mediums, a record breaking number in the exhibit’s four year run.

“Thanks to being in the art department at Allen High School, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in many, many art shows,” senior Austin Galetti said. “I can’t thank the judges enough for this opportunity.”

Out of the 20 artists that were selected for the county-wide, juried exhibition, five AHS students’ artworks were among those on the gallery walls. Galetti, along with senior Alyssa Gould, junior Deborah Bushland, senior Rocky Sahoo, and senior Safaa Alimi made it through the vigorous creative process and difficult judging to be named as some of the up-and-coming young artists of Allen.

“It’s extremely humbling, in all honesty,” Galetti said. “Walking into the exhibit of all those incredible artists is so humbling.”

Galetti had an impressive total of three pieces chosen for “20 under 20,” and each one of them were completed in different mediums, including digital, ink and photography, showcasing his versatility and eye for design.

“For my art, it is all about the details and the overall feeling,” Galetti said. “I personally love working with digital art.”

Galetti has been interested in art ever since he could hold a crayon. Now, in his last year of high school, although he enjoys creating art directed by his teachers, Galetti said that he tends to draw whatever catches his eye, including his own photographs.

“Sometimes the pieces I create have an underlying meaning that represents an issue I feel strongly about,” Galetti said. “But most of the time, it’s just pieces of me.”

Sahoo also had three pieces showcased at the “20 under 20” exhibit using a variety of mediums like ink, graphite, and colored pencil. According to Sahoo, the ultimate goals behind his selected pieces were to create memories that connect with his audience and to make them think about the state of society.

“For my prismacolor drawing, I wanted to represent the beauty of something that has been abandoned for such a long time, which is older technology,” Sahoo said. “I wanted to represent the beauty in a different perspective.”

Growing up in rural Oklahoma, Sahoo’s mother taught him how to draw landscapes and observation drawings. The influence of his family can be seen in his “Man with a Camera,” which depicts his grandfather’s hands. Sahoo said that his artistic background developed into a strong desire to communicate his ideas to other people through his art.

“Art gives me a voice,” Sahoo said. “What words can’t express, I can express through drawings and paintings.”

Another selected artist was Safaa Alimi, and like her fellow “20 under 20” artists, she explained that she was first drawn to art during her childhood, an interest that continued to flourish as she grew older. The “20 under 20” judges displayed her digital painting titled “The Eye,” a detailed portrait that demonstrates her personal aesthetic.

“I saw this digital artist online who drew amazing digital pieces,” Alimi said of her inspiration behind her piece. “I wanted to try it out myself.”

Being chosen for the “20 under 20” art competition was a pleasant surprise, according to Alimi, who also won third place in last year’s Allen ISD Art Contest. Alimi’s main subject of artistic interest is birds, and of the work she has produced, she said she is most proud of her acrylic painting of a sun parakeet.

“It was my first time using acrylics,” Alimi said, describing her favorite piece. “It came out nicely.”

Each of the “20 under 20” artists possess their own unique perspectives and distinctive styles that make their art truly original. Now recognized as the emerging young artists of Collin County, there are no limits to their creative potentials, and “20 under 20” is only the beginning.

“My objective with art competitions is to create art and share what I like with others,” Galetti said. “The best part of it all is seeing other people’s art and getting new ideas and inspirations through it.”