Boys & Girls Club member receives national art award

Sixteen-year-old Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club member Lei’Asha B. is one of 33 National Winners in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) National Fine Arts Competition.

The National Fine Arts program encourages artistic expression among Club members, ages 6 to 18, through drawing, painting, printmaking, collage, mixed media and sculpture. Every year, the program recognizes hundreds of highly-talented young artists from Boys & Girls Clubs across the country at the local, regional and national levels. Lei’Asha’s piece, titled “Portrait,” was professionally judged by renowned artists in Atlanta, Georgia, and praised for her collage technique. As a national winner, Lei’Asha will have her prized artwork reproduced and displayed in the National Art Gallery at BGCA’s National Headquarters in Atlanta. The piece will also be featured at multiple BGCA events around the United States over the next year. Lei’Asha, who just started her junior year at Riverview High School, has been practicing her artistic talent since she was 8 years old. She said the art instructors at the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club has helped shape her style and encourage her to try a variety of media ever since she became a Club member in 2010. “The Art Room has to be my favorite place in the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club. I’ve spent so much time over the last 9 years working on my skills,” said Lei’Asha. “I love it all – mixed media, charcoal, ink, pen, colored pencil, printmaking – all of it!” While the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club empowers Lei’Asha to practice her passion in a safe, positive place, Lei’Asha’s parents have also inspired her unique vision and creativity. “Both my mom and dad are artists,” said Lei’Asha. “They’ve played such an important role in helping me develop my talent, and I’ve really enjoyed sharing my view of the world with others through art.” Lei’Asha said “Portrait” is a celebration of her culture, and she hopes that those who observer the piece will feel her sense of pride. “I want people to say ‘Wow! That’s different!’ when they see my work,” said Lei’Asha. “I love being able to express parts of my life with people through art in ways that they may have never seen before.” Lei’Asha has also had her work displayed at the Sarasota County Fair, and has completed live paintings on stage at multiple Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota County events, including our signature gala Champions for Children.