Announcing the 2026 Student Exhibition at The Parrish Art Museum
On View March 7–April 26, 2026
Join us for the Opening Reception on Saturday, March 7–free and open to all
The annual Student Exhibition showcases the creativity of more than 1,000 young artists, from Pre-K through High School, celebrating students and their families across the East End
WATER MILL, NY – February 24, 2026 – The Parrish Art Museum is pleased to announce the opening of its 2026 Student Exhibition, a cherished tradition for 73 years, showcasing the creativity of more than 1,000 young artists from more than 50 schools across Eastern Long Island. In recognition of the United States’ 250th anniversary, this year’s Student Exhibition invites students to explore the nation’s founding ideals with themes of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, alongside our inaugural PARRISH USA250 exhibition, Regeneration: Long Island’s History of Ecological Art and Care, exploring sustainability and the unique ecology of Long Island.
The exhibition kicks off with a Preview Day on Saturday, March 7, 2026. This special event invites Student Exhibition artists, their families, teachers, and the community to enjoy refreshments, live music, and the chance to experience the exhibition firsthand. The schedule for Preview Day is as follows:
• 11 AM–12 PM | Gallery Preview
• 12–2 PM | Young Artists Preview (Pre-K through Grade 8)
• 2–4 PM | High School Artists Preview
Admission to the Museum is free. The event runs from 11 AM–5 PM in the Museum galleries, and light refreshments will be provided.
2026 Student Exhibition
Participants in the Student Exhibition explore both traditional and non-traditional approaches to artmaking, demonstrating imagination, enthusiasm, and technical skill. The exhibit includes works in painting, sculpture, drawing, photography, and mixed media. Over 1,000 students from more than 50 Eastern Long Island schools–from Bellport to East Hampton and the North Fork–contribute to this vibrant celebration of youthful creativity.
“The Student Exhibition is one of the Parrish Art Museum’s most joyful traditions, bringing more than 1,000 young artists and their families into our galleries for a day to celebrate student creativity and our art educators. This year, as we mark the 250th anniversary of the United States, we are excited to see how young artists across the East End respond to this milestone and the nation’s founding ideals,” said Nathan Malak, Education Programs Manager, Parrish Art Museum. “We are also proud that, as ACCESS PARRISH celebrates its 10th anniversary, the exhibition showcases the creativity of its participants and reflects our commitment to inclusion, connection, and making art accessible to all.”
The following schools will have artworks on view:
(As of 2/20/2026) Albert G. Prodell Middle School, Amagansett School, Bellport High School, Bridgehampton High School, Bridgehampton School, Center Moriches High School, Cutchogue East Elementary, East Hampton High School, East Hampton Middle School, East Quogue Elementary, Eastport South Manor Junior Senior High School, Flora and Fauna {A Forest School}, Gary D. Bixhorn Technical Center, Hampton Bays High School, Hampton Bays Middle School, It Takes a Village, John M. Marshall Elementary School (JMMES), Luv Michael, Mattituck Junior Senior High School, Miller Place High School, Our Lady of the Hamptons Regional Catholic School, Oysterponds Elementary School, Pierson High School, Raynor Country Day School, Ross School, Riverhead High School, Sag Harbor Elementary School, Sagaponack Common School District, Shelter Island UFSD, Shoreham-Wading River High School, South Street School, Southampton Elementary School, Southampton High School, Southampton Montessori School, Springs School, The Children’s School, The Hayground School, The Ross Lower School, The Ross Middle School, Tuttle Avenue School, Wainscott Elementary School, Westhampton Beach High School, Westhampton Beach Middle School, William Floyd High School.
ACCESS PARRISH Celebrates 10 Years
Founded in 2016, ACCESS PARRISH marks 10 years this year of making art accessible to all. The program serves year-round community members with a wide range of neurodivergent, physical, and cognitive disabilities, fostering wellbeing, connection, creativity, and lifelong engagement with art for individuals with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, autism, and cancer, as well as veterans, seniors, caregivers, and families facing social, economic, or physical barriers.
Celebrating this milestone, the 2026 Student Exhibition showcases artwork by ACCESS PARRISH participants inspired by Regeneration: Long Island’s History of Ecological Art and Care and the 250th anniversary of the United States, exploring themes of life, liberty, the pursuit
of happiness, sustainability, and Long Island ecology.
The following Community Partner Organizations and ACCESS PARRISH Partners will have artwork on view: The Alzheimer’s Disease Resource Center, The Bridgehampton Childcare and Recreation Center, The East End Disabilities Association, The East End Special Players: Explorer’s, Flying Point Foundation for Autism, Hampton Bays High School Life Skills, Luv Michael, New Hour for Women and Children LI, Southampton High School Life Skills, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital: Center for Parkinson’s Disease, and Stony Brook Southampton Hospital: The Phillips Family Cancer Center.
Exhibition Support
The Parrish Art Museum’s educational programming is supported, in part, by the Arts and Letters Foundation; NY Community Trust-Long Island; the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation; Peggy Amster; and the property taxpayers from the Southampton School District and Tuckahoe Common School District. Additional support for education initiatives is provided by the Museum’s annual Spring Fling and Midsummer Gala benefit events.
The Parrish Art Museum’s programs are made possible, in part, by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.
