Students at Kelly Elementary School in Portland, Oregon, recently completed a collaborative art project with ceramic artist and educator Sarah Pike. The artist-in-residence program, which ran for several weeks, guided students in designing and creating individual ceramic tiles.
According to verified school communications, the project aimed to integrate arts education into the core curriculum and foster student creativity. Each student designed a tile reflecting personal interests or community themes.
The finished tiles have been assembled into a permanent mosaic installation within the school. The project was funded through a combination of the school's art budget and a grant from the Regional Arts & Culture Council, supporting artist residencies in Portland Public Schools.
Principal Dr. Kimberly Miles stated the installation celebrates student voice and creates a lasting legacy of their time at Kelly Elementary. Similar artist-in-residence programs have been noted in other Portland schools as a method to enhance hands-on learning.
