As part of Delbarton's annual AP Art Exhibit, we continue our AP Artist Spotlight series highlighting the creativity and vision of our senior artists. This week, we feature Wesley Gabriel ’26, whose Sustained Investigation challenges viewers to look beyond iconic landmarks and appreciate the overlooked structures that make architecture possible.

For Wesley, art has been a lifelong companion. "Instead of an iPad at the dinner table, I was given a sketchbook and colored pencils," he said. "This routine continued through preschool and elementary school," eventually growing into a passion that followed him from middle school classrooms to AP Studio Art.

For his portfolio, Wesley turned his attention to architecture, choosing to focus not on famous buildings, but on the hidden details that often go unnoticed. Drawn to the industrial frameworks beneath and around bridges, he became fascinated by the structures that support everything above them while remaining largely invisible.

As his investigation evolved, so did his perspective. What began as a study of structural supports gradually shifted to exploring what those structures themselves support, and ultimately, the process of construction itself. "I hope viewers walk away seeing architecture a little differently, pausing to notice and appreciate the overlooked structures that quietly hold everything together."

Throughout his portfolio, Wesley experimented with expressive color rather than strict realism, sometimes using bold primary colors to emphasize form and shape, while other pieces relied on monochromatic palettes to create a quieter mood. He also incorporated mixed media, layering colored pencil over watercolor washes to bring intricate scaffolding and architectural details into sharper focus.

Through his work, Wesley encourages viewers to slow down, look more closely, and find beauty in the structures that often fade into the background of everyday life.

We thank Wesley for sharing his artistic journey and perspective, and we look forward to the next AP Artist Spotlight in this year's series.