SAN DIEGO, CA.- Budding artists from all over San Diego will display their talents in the San Diego Museum of Art's biennial exhibition of K-12 student artwork, Young Art 2005: Portraits/Retratos. Drawn from San Diego City and County public and private schools, the more than 200 works chosen for this juried exhibition will focus on the art of portraiture in all media in conjunction with the current exhibition Retratos: 2,000 Years of Latin American Portraits.

A long-standing program at the Museum, Young Art is a significant component of SDMA's education and outreach efforts and is highly anticipated by both educators and students alike. Working with more than 260 teachers from 184 city and county schools, Young Art generates an important link between youth, teachers, and the Museum—cultivating creativity in the artists of tomorrow.

Young Art 2005: Portraits/Retratos represents the culmination of a year-long exploration for teachers and students. Using SDMA as a resource, teachers have participated in artist-in-residencies, classes, and workshops designed to help participating students plan and create a portrait of their own to communicate their ideas, visions, and understanding of themselves and their place in the world. Throughout the school year, students learned different art techniques and forms of portraiture, giving them the tools to create their own interpretations of themselves and people around them.