Written by: Layla Jaime
The future isn’t something young people are waiting for—it’s already in their hands. This was the sentiment behind In Our Hands, an exhibition showcased earlier this year at the Coral Gables Museum.
The exhibition was created in collaboration with The Museum Project (TMP), a high school volunteer group within the museum founded in 2014. TMP connects youth to the local arts and cultural scene in Miami-Dade through hands-on service and creative initiatives.
In Our Hands featured the artwork of 15 high school students from across Miami. This recent initiative reflects TMP’s ongoing commitment to making museum spaces more accessible to young people and amplifying their voices, empowering them to understand that the future of art and society is, quite literally, in their hands.
Art with Intention
“From the embrace of loved ones, to our interactions with technology and the tangible, this exhibition seeks to display both the struggles and triumphs of our bonds with one another,” said Rashmi Karthik, Curatorial Lead for the project, in her exhibition statement. The exhibition sought to communicate a broader message about the human experience through eight different mediums, including digital art, mixed media, painting, and photography.
One standout piece, Glub (2024) by Design and Architecture Senior High sophomore Falon Fraga, used shells, newspaper, and paint to make a poignant commentary on the state of power-wielding individuals in our society. Several other pieces in the exhibition similarly explored pressing social issues, providing a unique perspective on these topics through the eyes of teenagers.
Pictured: Glub (2024) by Design and Architecture Senior High sophomore Falon Fraga uses shells, newspaper, and paint to comment on privilege and power, offering a powerful commentary on societal structures and authority.
Built from the Ground Up
Bringing In Our Hands to life was entirely student-led, curated, and executed with support from museum staff. With seven students comprising the project leadership—spanning marketing, curatorial, installation and outreach roles— TMP’s team collaborated closely in order to develop the theme and select artwork submitted by local teens to shape a unified vision.
The idea for the exhibition emerged in a moment of urgency and creative energy. “We had just gone through a transition in club sponsorship,” recalled TMP Vice President and Project Lead Alexandra Papp, “but in a moment of furious brainstorming, spitting out ideas for hours late into the night, we landed on it—a gallery showcasing the work of students around the city, showcasing what our youth have to offer.” Although the process was not always smooth—consisting of dozens of emails, long days of installation, and hands-on adjustments until every piece felt exactly right—what began as an idea pitched in one chaotic meeting eventually turned into a real exhibition.
“Although what we thought would take one month to plan took half a year, together we made it,” said Papp. “Looking back, I am proud of what we achieved, the people we brought together, and the initiative we embarked on.”
Pictured: The Museum Project celebrates the opening night of “In Our Hands” at the Coral Gables Museum. From left to right: Catharina Cardoso (Art Selection Committee), Layla Jaime (Assistant Project Lead), Alexandra Papp (Project Lead), and Olivier Filet (Marketing and Social Media Lead).
Visitors engage with Step (2025), a digital artwork by Antonella Sabatino, a freshman at Miami Arts Studio. This piece offers a unique perspective through the lens of digital art, inviting viewers to interpret its themes and visual elements.
A Night to Remember
The opening night for the exhibition solidified the importance of this initiative. As students, educators, and visitors poured into the Zahner Center to see what, for some students, was their first time having work formally exhibited, there was a sense of pride and connection in the room.
Conversations were sparked before canvases, students snapped photos with their teachers and artworks, and strangers silently admired pieces and wordlessly left notes to artists they had never met. “[I felt] excited and honored to have my piece exhibited there at the Coral Gables Museum. I was…very surprised and happy at how many people enjoyed my artwork,” said artist Ariana Formica, a sophomore at New World School of the Arts and artist of Faded Figure (2025).
In Our Hands was ultimately a reminder that when young people are trusted and empowered to lead, they do so with conviction, passion, and creativity– shaping a vision entirely in their hands. And with more exhibitions and outreach projects on the horizon, The Museum Project is just getting started.