We Are Your Future: The Voices of Queens Teens

curated by julie mckim
Queens Museum, Queens, New York 
SPRING 2019

In 2019, I was very fortunate to work at the Queens Museum as their curator in residence. As part of the residency, I worked with a group of Queens high school students to teach them how to curate an art exhibition. We Are Your Future: The Voices of Queens Teens is the result of the students’ hard work.

The art was created by the 33 students (including the teen curators) who are part of the Queens Teens program. The work is from a social justice perspective and the teens use their art as the way to make their voices heard on topics ranging from gun violence, immigration, LGBTQ+, mental health, and the environment. 

The teen curators wrote the essay and organized the showPlease find attached the essay written by the teens and an image by Sean Jenkins, titled, "Everything is Fine." When asked to select an image that best described the theme of the show, the curatorial teens selected this image.

We Are Your Future: The Voices of Queens Teens discusses social issues through the lens of teenagers. As a group of people who have little say in society, we urge the recognition of contemporary societal problems through the art we have created. These works aim to make our voices heard and include us in the larger conversation. We hope this exhibition promotes change, encourages discussions, and creates a better world for future generations. 

Queen Teens is a long running program offered by the Queens Museum to local high school students for arts enrichment and career advancement. This year, we are a group of 33 teens selected from over 250 applicants, all affiliated with the borough of Queens either through our communities, schools, or residences. We come from over 30 high schools and are a mix of cultural backgrounds, languages, ages, and socioeconomic status. Many of us are first-generation Americans who reflect the diversity of Queens through our wide-ranging identities. 

Curatorial Statement Written by Queens Teens Curatorial Committee