Here’s where to find some of the best artwork from eight eastern Idaho high schools

POCATELLO – A local nonprofit is showcasing works of art made by students from eight different eastern Idaho high schools.

More than 130 pieces of art are on display in the gallery of the Pocatello Art Center since Tuesday for its 2025 Annual High School Art Exhibition. These pieces, ranging in categories from oil painting to pottery, were created by students from Pocatello, Century, Highland, Grace Lutheran, Snake River, Marsh Valley, American Falls, Riverside and Blackfoot high schools.

“The Pocatello Art Center is proud to host this show every year. We enjoy looking at the creative endeavors of our students and want to celebrate their talents and their abilities,” said Ryan Babcock, a board member for the Pocatello Art Center. Babcock also serves as the director of Idaho State University’s John B. Davis Gallery and is a senior lecturer for the Department of Art.

People who come to view the gallery will find artwork across seven categories: painting, black and white drawing, color drawing, digital art, 2D mixed media, sculpture and pottery. These will be on display for the First Friday Artwalk on Friday, March 7. People can also see them on the days when the Pocatello Art Center is open to the public, which are Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from noon until 4 p.m. and Friday from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.

The public can view all of these pieces until Friday, March 14, which is when the center will hold a ceremony to give out only 26 awards, including a People’s Choice Award and a Best in Show Award. The ceremony, which starts at 6 p.m., will give awards to pieces across all of the categories in the gallery.

Thanks to a grant from the Spaulding Foundation, the center offers cash prizes ranging from around $25 to $100 to the award winners.

The pieces that win an award will go on to be displayed in the ISU High School Art Exhibition in the Fine Arts Building room 408, from March 31 until April 17. The final awards ceremony will be held in the John B. Davis Gallery on April 17 at 6 p.m.

Babcock has witnessed a variety of responses from students and parents after winning an award in these ceremonies.

“I’ve seen everything from squeals of joy upon getting an award to families getting teary-eyed about their students’ success,” Babcock said.

The way he sees it, these exhibitions and ceremonies provide a much-needed way to recognize young artists in eastern Idaho.

“There’s not a lot of outlet for artists (in eastern Idaho) … so where we can give recognition to students for great work and creative work, and award their talent, that’s why we’re here,” Babcock said.