Teen artists in Washington, D.C., created two exhibitions—'The Teen Experience' at the American University Museum and a mural at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival—depicting honest portrayals of their lives, including school lockdowns, protests, self-doubt, and the pandemic. The Museum of Contemporary American Teenagers (MoCAT), founded by teacher David Lopilato, organized both shows, but some adults objected to the full range of topics addressed, such as the 'Free Palestine' protest sign in the mural.
The exhibitions matter because they highlight a cultural gap: teenagers shape many cultural moments yet are often ignored in serious art spaces. By giving teens a platform for authentic expression, MoCAT challenges censorship and amplifies youth perspectives on urgent social issues, from gun violence to climate change, demonstrating the power of art as a tool for civic engagement and self-representation.