Breaking Ground Art Contest
Congratulations to Our Winners
Hundreds of young artists across Harlem & South Bronx picked up a brush, a pencil, a vision and broke ground. They didn't just submit art; they submitted proof that New York’s future is bright. As an art-first institution, we could not be prouder!
Sage Gonzales' "My Crown" gives us a Black woman, Afro rising like a halo, and a heavy truth: that crown was never given. It was paid for, in full, in advance, by every voice that ever stepped onto this stage or walked the streets of Harlem and refused to be silenced. Reminding us to speak, even if your voice shakes.
Kyri Blue's "Powerful Pawns" moves us across a chessboard where the smallest piece carries the largest destiny, sounds familiar? Because here is the secret the board keeps: a pawn that keeps moving forward, that refuses to stop, eventually reaches the other side, and is promoted. Transformed. Crowned a Queen. That is not just a chess rule. That is Harlem. That is The Apollo. That is every artist in this contest who started as the piece everyone underestimated, and is moving, square by square, toward becoming exactly who they are destined to be.
And Kira's "A Taste of Tomorrow's Legacy" braids it all together, quite literally, weaving the cultures, flavors, and stories that didn't just pass through Harlem and this stage, but were born here, and now belong to the world.
We invite you to join us in celebrating the bravery of these young artists. To create is to be vulnerable. To create about home, identity, and legacy, and to do it as a young person, in public, for the world to see, takes tremendous courage many adults never find. These students found it already. That is worth celebrating!
"This drawing demonstrates the ability for a pawn to become something powerful. In this case it's the black pawn representing my fellow brothers and sisters in black excellence."
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"The Apollo Theater has always been a place Black artists needed to be because it is where their voices are truly seen, heard, and valued. It is not just a stage—it is a space where artists arrive with dreams and leave with identity, confidence, and purpose. To stand on the Apollo stage means becoming part of a living legacy where Black artists have long found the courage to step into their future. In my artwork, Harlem’s music becomes food for the soul. As I sip from my spoon, I am taking in the history, creativity, and strength shaped by artists who stood on the Apollo stage. My hair is a map of memory, woven in braids that mirror the rhythm of jazz and the flow of soul. My spoon is inspired by the Tree of Hope, which artists touch for courage before they perform. To me, the Apollo is not just a theater; it is a kitchen for the soul, nourishing generations of Black artists with creativity and identity. What begins at the Apollo does not stay there. Through my art class, my Korean art teacher, Ms. Jeong, helped me understand that Harlem’s music traveled across the world, influencing jazz, hip-hop, and New Jack Swing, which continue to be admired and reimagined by Korean musicians today. Artists such as Louis Armstrong and Michael Jackson's performance in Korea carried its spirit into global music culture influenced today's powerful K-pop I “got to be there” because the Apollo is where artists become."
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"My images capture not just people, but a certain presence shared amongst them. My intention as a photographer is to show the depth, resilience and humanity of my subjects, highlighting the dignity and power of Black expression. Black artists, creatives and lives are layered, complex and worthy of celebration. The Apollo has always been a place where Black artists can showcase their work without compromise, a space that honors cultural authenticity. My photo reflects why that visibility matters. Black artists need platforms that celebrate their stories, amplify their voices and resist erasure. Just as the Apollo provides a stage for performance and identity, this image captures a presence that demands recognition and respect, proving that such spaces remain vital today. The Apollo has historically been a space where Black excellence is seen and honored, and this photo reflects that same need."
