Art and identity: the high school artist

The purpose of this study is to investigate the artistic identity of high school females and the relationships they have with their art teachers. The research compiled my own experience as a high school student with the reflections of five participants who graduated from high school within the past five years. Each participant was interviewed about her time in high school related to art, including relationships and events in and outside of the art classroom. The themes that emerged from each participant's experience brought about the conclusion that the high school artistic identity is comprised of action, product, space, and perception. Uncovering the artistic identity of the high school student highlights the importance of the art teacher and the physical and emotional space they create in the art room.