Seed Your Future is proud to announce the winners of its Inaugural National Art Contest, which invited high school art students across the country to showcase their artistic talent while exploring the critical role of horticulture in their world.
The contest was launched to inspire the next generation to see the beauty and significance of plants. This experience can be a creative pathway for students to explore a potential career in horticulture, blending artistic expression with a deeper appreciation for plants and the natural world, from a hobby to a lifelong, fulfilling career.
And the Winners Are…
1st Place: Ivy Colored Lenses – Gabrielle L., Senior in Chicago, Illinois
2nd Place: The Value of Conservation – Nora L., Junior in Spring Lake Park, Minnesota
3rd Place: Heritage Garden – Abraham M., Senior in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania
1st. Place: Ivy Colored Lenses (pictured above): My grandma stands in the center surrounded by various flowers. Her entire life she’s been gardening, and I’ve grown up seeing her care for all plant life. After my grandpa’s funeral happened, she kept the ivy plants from it, and she still has them and continues to take care of them thirteen years later. So, taking care of plants is a large part of her identity and is a way that she shows compassion to everything around her. My grandma’s the most important person to me so I always watch everything she does. She’s always taking care of flowers, so they have become an important symbol in my life so far. I picked blue for the flower in her hair and her shirt because her favorite color is blue. The flowers in her hands are all different types to represent the different flowers she’s collected and cared for throughout her life. The bright colors represent her warm and optimistic personality. I wanted to express how deeply important my grandma is to me and therefore horticulture because her passion for it is a defining trait of her as the woman who’s taken care of and loved me for my entire life.
2nd. Place: The Value of Conservation: My attempt to properly represent the conservation that horticulture provides, I decided to use two completely different styles and color palettes in one piece. I also used white space in between the two compositions in order to create a sense of gravity and space. Overall, I utilized the color and space separating the two styles to represent how horticulture allows for the separation, protection and conservation of plant species in this new technologically advanced world.
3rd. Place: Heritage Garden: This work is a representation of the way that the natural world of horticulture parallels and enriches my life. I had the idea for this work when I was at my grandparent’s house in their garden. The idea that strawberries have a strong underground root system that connects each of them parallel my family’s experiences of growing together. I used this inspiration to help me create my self portrait, depicting myself as a ripe strawberry. In this work the faces within the flowers are my family members, my siblings, parents, and grandparents. The work shows a juxtaposition between the natural world of the plants, and the more surreal elements of faces and utilization of space. In this way the natural world informs and inspires me, helping me see beyond myself and expanding my perspective through horticulture.
The first-place winner will have their artwork prominently displayed at the 2025 Seed Your Future Gala in Chicago, Illinois, where they will be recognized for their achievement. In addition to the student prizes, the winning student’s art teacher will receive a $500 award for classroom art supplies to support continued artistic exploration.
Beyond the top winners, Honorable Mentions were awarded to several exceptional pieces, including Hydroponic Greenhouse, The Bloom of Resilience, Protective Nature, and many more. These works will also be highlighted across Seed Your Future’s platforms to showcase the creativity and passion of young artists.
Why This Contest Matters
Seed Your Future launched this contest to ignite a deeper appreciation for horticulture among students, encouraging them to see the connection between art, science, and the natural world. By blending creativity with awareness of plants’ impact on daily life, the contest fosters a new generation of individuals who recognize the importance of horticulture in green spaces, conservation, and sustainability. We need more people pursing horticulture careers to grow our food, think of innovative ways to help improve our environmental challenges, beautify spaces that can impact our physical, mental and emotional health. We interact with horticulture every day!
“We were blown away by the incredible submissions and the thoughtful ways students portrayed horticulture’s role in their lives,” said Jazmin Albarran, Executive Director at Seed Your Future. “Their art beautifully captures the essence of nature, conservation, and the power of plants, and we are honored to spotlight their talent.”
Looking Ahead
Seed Your Future remains committed to nurturing the next generation of plant professionals for the horticulture industry. This contest is just one of many initiatives designed to inspire young minds and foster a lifelong appreciation for horticulture.
About Seed Your Future
Seed Your Future is the movement to promote horticulture and inspire people to pursue careers working with plants. We envision a world where everyone understands the power of plants and is aware of the promising careers in the art, science, technology, and business of horticulture.
To support Seed Your Future’s ongoing efforts, please visit: Seed Your Future Donation Page.
For more information, visit seedyourfuture.org
By Seed Your Future
