This year, eight talented artists from Delbarton’s Class of 2025 showcased their full Sustained Investigations at the annual AP Art Exhibit in the Fine Arts Center. To highlight the creativity and dedication behind each senior artist’s work, we will be featuring them in our annual AP Artist Spotlight series.

Meet our eighth and final artist, Ryan Readlinger '25:

Ryan's art journey is shaped by his deep connection to the natural world and the challenges it faces. Growing up, he adventured through the Watchung Nature Reservation, appreciating its beauty. But when he returned recently, he saw a troubling sight: the park was overtaken by plastic pollution. Instead of turning away, Ryan found inspiration in the contrast between nature and waste.

His art explores how plastic pollution impacts nature, aiming to highlight its lasting beauty. “I want to create an appealing subject matter from an inherently unappealing subject,” Ryan explains. Initially, his work combined acrylic paints with plastic collage elements, but he has since embraced 3D plastics, using them as both material and framing devices to add depth to his pieces.

Influenced by artists like Hassan Hajjaj and Ralph Dusenberry, Ryan incorporates layered perspectives and framing techniques to add meaning to his work. “I want to embrace the unique effects plastic pollution has created while advocating for change,” he says.

Ryan's work serves as both a reflection on the effects of pollution and a call to action, encouraging viewers to see beauty even in the most unexpected places.

We salute all eight of our AP ARtsits for a job well done this year!