Jennifer Fan, an eighth-grader at Memorial Middle School, has won a National Scholastic Art Gold Award, one of the nation’s highest recognitions for young artists, and has been invited with her family and art teacher to attend The Scholastic Awards National Ceremony at Carnegie Hall on June 5 in New York City. Her art teacher is Lynn Ludlam.
Jennifer’s award-winning painting, titled Figuring It Out, placed her in the top 1 percent of all awards submissions. This year, more than 100,000 pieces of art and manuscripts were submitted nationwide for judging. Past winners of the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards include photographer Richard Avedon, writer Truman Capote, poet Sylvia Plath and famous artist Andy Warhol.
Jennifer’s mother Lily Zhang reports that Jennifer has been painting since she was 4 years old. During the past five years, this talented 13-year-old has sold 55 paintings.
Her award-winning national painting has also earned her an upcoming scholarship to the Glassell Junior School at the Museum of Fine Arts. Her other works this year were named Best of Show at the 2008 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, won a Regional Gold Key, and took 1st prize in the 2008 Olympic Games Competition, among other honors
Jennifer's works have been displayed at the Art League of Houston, Reliant Center of Houston, Memorial City Mall, Fort Bend ISD and the Chinese Civic Center. Her works are collected by the Thornwood Gallery. Her hobbies include drawing, music, swimming, ice skating and fashion design.