AMPLIFY Youth Art Exhibition

Arianna "Ari" Mullen (she/her) is an illustrator from Michigan, currently based in the Detroit Metropolitan Area. Rooted in a lifelong love of art, Ari’s creative practice is deeply intertwined with her commitment to advocacy for women's health and safety issues. Through both her artwork and her outreach, she seeks to provide a voice for those who feel silenced, transforming personal and collective stories into visual narratives. Her work reflects a sensitivity to storytelling, a passion for justice, and a drive to connect art with empowerment. Ari’s dream is to transition from her 9-5 career into life as a full-time book illustrator, where she can continue building worlds that inspire resilience, imagination, and hope.

Chance Whitney (they/them) is a 22-year-old who has struggled against the odds their whole life. Now ready to move onto the next chapter after overcoming their greatest challenges thus far, Chance is taking that leap of faith towards helping themselves and the world around them through their empathy and creativity. Chance’s hope is that their message and new perspective is found by those when they need it most.

Eliot Redwine (he/him) is a 19-year old who is a sophomore at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He is passionate about environmental sciences, and wants to pursue a career in scientific illustration. He enjoys many art mediums, but his favorites are printmaking and drawing. In his free time, he likes to camp, play bass guitar, and add to his record and CD collection.

Leo Saunders (they/them) is a self-taught artist located in Canton, Michigan. Their art explores patterns and textures using muti-media techniques with a highlight on acrylic paints. In their free time Leo enjoys connecting with their communities and nature through fairs, festivals, and activism work. Regardless of the activity, they are always striving to find new art forms and methods to include in their works.

Md Ezaz Miah (he/him) is a 14-year-old student living with their family in Hamtramck, Michigan. They are a Bangladeshi American and an 8th grader at Kosciusko Middle School. They enjoy creating pen and ink drawings with references. When they are not creating art, they enjoy playing soccer and chess. Md also has a love for anime with his favorite being Hunter x Hunter.

Melaniya Zazovsky (she/her) is a dynamic artist. Born in Russia, Melaniya moved to the United States in 2006, an experience that profoundly shaped her artistic vision and practice. Melaniya's art explores themes of identity, belonging, and cultural integration, reflecting her journey and the blending of her Russian heritage with her American surroundings. She works across various mediums, using her art to bridge cultural divides and foster a deeper understanding of the immigrant experience. Her unique perspective and ability to communicate across cultural boundaries have made her a compelling voice in contemporary art. She currently attends the University of Michigan in pursuit of a BFA and a minor in Art Administration as she continues to explore and challenge perceptions of cultural identity, aiming to inspire dialogue and promote cultural understanding through her art. Melaniya is committed to developing her practice, always seeking new ways to express the intricate tapestry of her experiences and heritage.

Mia Echlin (she/her) is a Junior at the University of Michigan studying Sociology (Law, Justice, and Social Change), Public Policy, and Urban Studies. She has worked as a featured artist for the UMich Poverty Solutions in their No Strings exhibit, and recently was a select winner of the University of Michigan’s US at 250 sticker competition. Her art primarily consists of acrylic portraits with a focus on female subjects and electric color. In her free time, she loves to sketch, scrapbook, and journal.

Nick Miltgen (he/him) is a 16 year old artist from Wyoming, Michigan. A junior at Wyoming Public High School and a middle collage student for GRCC, he is queer and loves music, especially punk and metal music, and loves the color orange! Nick likes all art mediums, but especially pencil and oil pastels. He uses art as a way to express his feelings and ideas.

Simone Sumpter (she/her) was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, but was raised in Detroit for a large part of her life. She's been drawing ever since she learned to write, and ever since then she's had the desire to share her story, whether she's drawing with oil pastels, graphite, or painting canvases with water color! She is so happy to share her story with AMPLIFY!

To Sof Berlanga (she/they), art is more than a pastime. It’s a way to bring people into a reality that is different from their own. They first realized the power they held with a paintbrush when they assembled a portfolio for their high school AP art class titled “Representations of Psychosis.” Not only was it a form of therapy to process their experiences, but they finally felt heard being able to show exactly what they went through.

Sophia Fahim (she/her) is a 17‑year‑old student in the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program at Northville High School. A rising senior, she creates artwork that explores the emotional landscape of growing up and the experiences that shape identity, working primarily in acrylic paint, graphite, and charcoal. Outside of her art, Sophia plays soccer and piano, volunteers as a children's tutor, enjoys traveling, and loves spending time with friends and family.

Suhan Zhu (she/her) is a 16-year-old artist from Ann Arbor, Michigan. She lives with her family and has a beautiful old dachshund. Her favorite art medium is acrylics and ceramics. Her art is inspired by human anatomy and machines. When she’s not creating art she loves to watch horror movies and researching deep sea creatures.