Lilly Jacks

Sure Johnson (10) works on one of her pieces in painting class. She has been creating art for most of her life and finds joy in the hobby.“It’s very ingrained in young artists that they have to make something that’s a beautiful masterpiece, but art can just be whatever you think works,” Johnson said.

Art  is seen as an escape — a  chance to leave reality and channel one’s focus into a canvas or piece of paper. For Suri Johnson (10), however, art serves as a portal, allowing her to connect her talents to her culture and identity, offering a space to reflect on life’s beauty and challenges.

Johnson began drawing at age 10 and painting just one year ago. Inspired by the absence of art in Islam, Johnson became curious about the role of art in other aspects of her life. 

“I was never super religious growing up, [art] is just something I noticed,” Johnson said. “I kept going to mosque and I never saw paintings like how usually a church would have, and I just thought it was strange and significant. I don’t think art should be limited.”

Although her religion is not a prominent part of her life, Johnson is deeply committed to her cultural identity. Raised in a Persian household, her work is largely influenced by her heritage. 

“I grew up looking at Persian art, which isn’t super common because in Islam you’re not supposed to draw people,” Johnson said. “I really loved ancient Persian depictions and I thought it was so beautiful, so I use it to inspire [my art].”

Johnson’s devotion to her culture stems from more than just a passion to understand her identity; it’s an attempt to connect to a side of her that she’s grown up without. 

“My mom was the Persian one, but she passed away when I was 7, so my way of being close to her was through learning about my culture,” Johnson said.

Growing up without her mom, Johnson had to find nontraditional ways of connecting with her. 

“I use art as a tribute to her,” Johnson said. “I’ve done a painting of her face, and my other paintings oftentimes end up looking like my mom because people subconsciously paint themselves a little bit, and we look so much alike.”

Ceramics teacher Jonathan Robbins admires Johnson’s artistic abilities in the classroom and beyond. 

“When a student is enthusiastic about art, it also often creates a ripple effect among their peers and even the teacher,” Robbins said. 

Johnson’s experience painting and drawing things that bring her joy have led her to develop strong opinions on the freedoms and limitations of art.

“You don’t have to have your art look like anything in particular,” Johnson said. “It can just be things that you think are beautiful because art is supposed to be a display of human emotion. That’s the meaning of art.” 

Although Johnson is unsure of where her future will take her, she knows art will be a central part of her life. With this in mind, she gives credit to the artists who take a chance with this career.

“People need to realize that art is something you do when you have the time, and that it takes a lot of courage to just branch off and do it as your job,” Johnson said. “A lot of artists deserve respect for that.”