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Through these dark winter months, we are thrilled to shine some light on three local teen artists through our continued partnership with Artists for Humanity. These talented creators — and the eight we’ve featured since our collaboration began in May of last year — captivate and inspire us. We are proud to feature their work throughout Prudential Center, and hope you’ll come out and experience it, too. 

Here’s a preview of our first three teen artists of 2023: Axander Vazquez, Faith Christensen, and Jeanetta Narcisse.

January’s Featured Artist, Axander Vazquez

We are featuring two of Axander’s digital photos around Prudential Center through the end of January. 

“Translucent Rays”	“Presidential Blue”

Artist’s Statement

I am an abstract photographer. My art mainly focuses on making ordinary everyday things into something organic that makes you look twice. For most of my work, I love to use double exposures. It helps me create something unique by merging two images into one.

I want people to see my work and feel something unique. In order for me to do that, I put a lot of my emotions and feelings into each and every piece. It’s something that I recently discovered that I was able to do because every time I asked someone about what they felt when they looked at a picture of mine, they described exactly what I felt at the moment I took the picture.

Making art in general matters to me because I get to express myself through art and create things that are unique to me. Each one of my artworks has a different feeling inside of them. Some will give you a feeling of nostalgia while some will make you feel calm and safe. That’s something that makes a photograph beautiful and makes me very passionate about this art form.

About the Artist

Axander Vazquez is a 17-year-old student working as a teen artist for Artists For Humanity. Ever since he could remember, he’s been obsessed with art, whether it is drawing, painting, videography, or photography. It has always interested him. He attributes a lot of his creativity to his grandfather. Throughout his childhood, he watched his grandfather create beautiful artwork from scratch like sculptures, chairs, drawings and much more. Watching his grandfather create these pieces of art inspired him to make art. By 2021, he fell in love with photography and soon discovered Artists For Humanity, where he was able to express his artistic vision.

Getting to know Axander

Q: What is your favorite spot in Boston to relax/have fun/explore?  

A: The Charles River is my favorite spot to relax and have fun because you get an amazing view of the skyline. 

Q: What does your perfect day in Boston look like?

For me, it is a day that is not too warm and not too cold, and it is golden hour in the city when the sunset gives everything an orange tint. I like to just walk around and take pictures and absorb the energy of that moment. 

February’s Featured Artist, Faith Christensen

Two of Faith’s digital photos — “Blue Hours” and “Crystallized” — will be featured throughout Prudential Center during the month of February.

“Blue Hour”	“Crystallized”

 

Artist’s Statement

I adore using my art to convey my emotions. My state of mind greatly influences my photographic approach, which enables my work to express specific feelings. My frame of mind process produces art that my emotions are unable to adequately convey through me and my environment. 

The most crucial elements in my artwork are composition, light, and subject. Although the composition and lighting are excellent, I believe that the shot is brought to life by how you make your subject feel and look. I feel free to express myself to the world and have a connection to the Earth when I am just strolling through life with a camera. As a result, the process can occasionally be quite intimate and emotional. The originality of each shot shows how much imagination and vibe I put into each piece. We should be inspired, provoked, calmed, entertained, and educated by art. 

In my artwork, the idea of spiraling emotions is really important since I’m always trying to create the appearance of specific moments in time. By abstracting recognizable locations and enhancing the photograph’s softness, I may evoke any feeling. The viewer may be stimulated to think about specific things by my variety of images that I capture using certain compositions, lighting, and themes. My intentions are for people to enjoy the emotional roller coaster that the photography process for me can be.

About the Artist

Faith Christensen is primarily a Boston, Massachusetts-based nature and portrait photographer. She wants to experience everything this opportunity has to offer, including various photographic genres, techniques, and styles. Faith photographed a variety of subjects as she was growing up because they drew her attention at the time. She came to the conclusion that photography was much more than just a hobby in her early adolescent years. Faith is fascinated by the world around her and hopes that by capturing it in a still image, she would be able to convey what she sees. She has the view that creativity may surpass one’s talents when it is motivated by passion. Faith’s own creativity, ingenuity, and passion for photography are evident in her artwork, which demonstrates how she uses each moment she captures to portray a variety of feelings and emotions.

Getting to Know Faith

Q: What does your perfect day in Boston look like?

A: Spending as much time as I can with my family, who mean the world to me and with whom I am so grateful to have such a wonderful relationship, would make for my ideal Boston day. Especially my big sister, we’re best friends and we can’t live without each other. We are constantly cracking jokes and supporting one another since we are with each other every second of the day. Nothing, in my opinion, could possibly make me happier than being with them.

Q: What is your favorite spot to eat in the city?

The Pleasant Café has to be my top pick for a meal in the city. My modest opinion is that their pizza is the greatest in Boston. They also have delicious fries and chicken fingers. When my mom was younger, she would visit there with her parents, and over the years, I’ve had the chance to share that experience with her. They have been providing services to families for more than 80 years, so it is filled with memories.

March’s Featured Artist, Jeanetta Narcisse

Two of Jeanetta’s digital photos — “Kaleidoscope” and “Twisted Escape” — will be featured throughout Prudential Center during the month of March.

“Kaleidoscope”	“Twisted Escape”

Artist’s statement 

Being raised in Boston you see things differently than the tourists that come to see the city. I make my work because I want both the pretty and the “ugly” parts of Boston to be seen. Since becoming a photographer I have seen everything through a different lens. I now see something unique and picture-worthy in the most random things whether it be the way the sun shines on a school bus or the cracks in the sidewalk. 

I like to believe that my work reflects my state of mind and expresses my feelings. When I’m feeling happy and content I tend to take more portraits and abstract work. On the contrary, when I’m feeling overwhelmed or just not in the best headspace, my work tends to be landscape and street photography. Overall I enjoy allowing others to see things from a different point of view, even if it’s not the best point of view. Giving people the opportunity to see something from a different perspective is a wholesome and exhilarating experience.

About the Artist

Jeanetta Narcisse is a 16-year-old artist born and raised in Boston. She attends the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science in the 10th grade. She started working for the non-profit organization Artists For Humanity in the summer of 2021, and has since explored different genres of photography and found her favorites. Despite being a slightly reserved person, when it comes to photography Jeanetta enjoys going out of her comfort zone, trying new techniques, and participating in fun projects. Jeanetta has always been a very expressive person since she was young. These traits have followed her and transferred over to her current and past artwork.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Getting to know Jeanetta

Q: What is your favorite spot to eat in the city?

A: My favorite place to eat in the city would have to be Crazy Good Kitchen on Newbury Street. Their milkshakes and fries are amazing and the portions are large. 

Q: What is your favorite retail store to shop in?

A: My favorite store to shop in is H&M. Their selection is very nice and expressive, plus they’re affordable.

Stop by the Prudential Center to explore the works of these talented teen artists — it’ll add some inspiration and light to your day!

About Artists for Humanity

Artists For Humanity (AFH) provides under-resourced teens the keys to self-sufficiency through paid employment in art and design. AFH is built on the philosophy that engagement in the creative process is a powerful force for social change, and that creative entrepreneurship is a productive and life-changing opportunity for young people. Bridging economic, racial and social divisions, AFH enriches urban communities by introducing young people’s creativity to the business community.

Learn more about May, June, and July’s artists: Sarah Richi, Sam Quintin, and Lydia Disla.

Learn more about August, September, and October’s artists: Evelyn Tran, Catherine Mitchell, and Nyah Leon.

Learn more about November and December’s artists: Nyarah Carter-Leary and Tiesha Semedo