10 Apr ESSEX COUNTY EXECUTIVE WELCOMES STUDENT ARTISTS TO ESSEX COUNTY MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. JUSTICE BUILDING County Partners with Art Educators of New Jersey to Highlight the Creative Talents of Essex County’s Students
Published on April 10, 2025
Newark, NJ – Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. and the Art Educators of New Jersey welcomed 36 students from throughout Essex County to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Justice Building in Newark for the Art Educators of New Jersey student art exhibit on Wednesday, April 9th. This is the 18th year DiVincenzo has partnered with the Art Educators of New Jersey to highlight student artwork at the Essex County Government Complex.
During the months of March and April, the first-floor lobby of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Building was transformed into a student art gallery. Employees and visitors to the county building were treated to colorful and lifelike portraits, paintings, and drawings.
“Essex County is home to incredibly talented and creative student artists across all grade levels, from elementary to high school. The original artwork featured in this exhibit is truly inspiring,” DiVincenzo said. “I am proud to collaborate with the Art Educators of New Jersey to showcase this exhibit, which highlights our students’ remarkable achievements and provides the public with a glimpse into the outstanding talent within our schools,” he added.
“I want to thank Joe DiVincenzo for partnering with us again. The arts are an essential part of the community and programs such as this support our students’ opportunity to express themselves,” said Amanda Palumbo, an art teacher with Abington Avenue Elementary School and coordinator of the Essex County Chapter of the Art Educators of New Jersey Student Art Exhibit.
This year’s show featured original works of art created by 36 students who ranged in age from elementary school to high school level. The students came from 10 different Essex County schools. The students whose drawings and paintings that were featured in the exhibit are as follows:
- Abington Avenue Elementary School in Newark: Dario Palumbo, Enoch Valerio, Hardy Valerio, Mayra Sapatanga, Fernando Figueroa, Erianna Castro, Bibjana Jude Pratheepan, Victoria Rivas and Ayden Washington
- Deerfield School in Short Hills: Julian Zou, Aria Gulati and Liam Cheng
- Delia Bolden Elementary School in Maplewood: Marigold Shah, Maya Plate, Michael Rose and Eliza Kinahan
- East Orange Community Charter School in East Orange: Amanda Jimenez, Ciara Lufry and Anisha M. Denis
- Livingston High School: Advay Sapre, Aahana Agrawal and Lucy Roitman
- Quitman Street Community School in Newark: Emylie Quishpe
- Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston: Ayala East, Abby Kaplan and Asher Feinstein
- Riker Hill Elementary School in Livingston: Myra Tyagi, Yuning Wu and Isabelle Bao
- Salome Urena Elementary School in Newark: Camila Garcia, Lhya Garcia, Zu’Riana Candelaria and Darren Taylor
- South Mountain School in Millburn: Simona Johnson, Kevin Zhou and Vera Hillemeier
The Student Art Exhibit is part of the County Executive’s initiative to recognize the accomplishments of Essex County students.
