Abigail Pruitt - Rush-Henrietta High School

It's not every day that high school students get a gallery showing for their works of art. But at RIT, the best of the best in young talent is on display, and that includes a self-portrait by Abigail Pruitt.

Pruitt is a senior at Rush-Henrietta High School. "I love it because the task was to create a picture that was a little expression of yourself," she says, "put a little zip into it, put on some sunglasses and strike a pose, and I really like how it turned out."

Abby's always loved drawing. She works with acrylics, scratchboard and oil stick. She uses art to express herself. "I get in the zone, I feel like I can express myself through it, I feel like I have so much to say and I have so many passions," she says.

Rush-Henrietta art teacher Julie Flisnik says Abby works very hard in the classroom. "She's done grant programs, and her art is very expressive," she says. "She puts her own personal interpretation in everything she does."

Abby is just as passionate about the outdoors as she is about art. She's heading to college to study environmental science, and hopes to combine the two for a career. For now, the gallery is open. "I hope they see a little bit of myself in my artwork," she says. "I hope it brings people joy and that it inspires people."

You can see her award-winning piece and other great student art at the Rochester-Finger Lakes Regional Exhibition, at the Bevier Gallery at RIT, February 1-27.