“Metamorphosis: A Sustainable Art Gallery & Fashion Showcase” Photo Gallery
by Sarah Bender
On April 16, visitors from around the Pittsburgh community joined the Pittsburgh Youth Leaders in Sustainability network and the Youth Climate Advocacy Committee for “Metamorphosis: A Sustainable Art Gallery & Fashion Showcase” at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The free event hosted a variety of activities for youth and families, plant-forward appetizers, sustainable art vendors, information and education tables, and a youth sustainable art and fashion contest and gallery.
The Sustainability Initiative's team of interns organized the submission process for the art gallery portion of the event. Youth ages 12-26 from middle schools, high schools, and universities around Pittsburgh were invited to reflect on their journeys to maintain hope and reimagine sustainability, informed by their backgrounds, cultures, and unique personal stories.
Community Engagement intern Purva Bommireddy, a senior double majoring in Civil Engineering and Statistics & Machine Learning, led the collaboration with Phipps that brought the event to life.
"We wanted to put together an event that was more inclusive to students who are doing a lot of amazing work in the arts, but haven't necessarily been able to engage as deeply in typical programming," Bommireddy said. "This was the perfect opportunity for them to share their work, express their creativity, and showcase ways to hold onto inspiration and hope during a challenging time."
23 art pieces, ranging from wearable art to collages, sculptures, and paintings, showcased the diverse ways young artists connect their work to sustainability in the Special Events Hall at Phipps. Photo by Kitoko Chargois.
Bommireddy, Youth Climate Advocacy Committee College Leader Marley McFarland, and Youth Climate Activist Mathilda Turich welcome attendees at the start of the event. Photo by Kitoko Chargois.
A visitor views a landscape titled “Ala-Kol in Karakol, Kyrgyzstan” by 22-year-old Community College of Allegheny County student Moorkan Ilias Kyzy. Photo by Kitoko Chargois.
Artist Mimi Chuang, a 21-year-old Humanities and Arts senior from CMU, poses with her comic “Sunspot,” an anthology that explores the responsibility to live sustainably. Photo by Kitoko Chargois.
An attendee examines “C6,” created by 23-year-old University of Pittsburgh staff member Vanessa Anne Legeza. Legeza is a science graduate, researcher, and healthcare worker, and this piece reflects her deep connection to science, the waste it produces, the breakthroughs that come with it, and the effects it has on the natural world. Photo by Kitoko Chargois.
The fashion showcase portion of the event featured a variety of creative, sustainable pieces made by young artists ages 12–26. Artists focused on themes like identity, growth, and the impact of community. Photo by Kitoko Chargois.
Beyond the Special Events Hall in the Tropical Forest Conservatory, different organizations like Green Bridge 412, Upstream Pittsburgh, and Tree Pittsburgh set up tables to share sustainability work and encourage attendees to get involved. Photo by Kitoko Chargois.
Visitors were invited to write down the title of their favorite artwork to vote for the People’s Choice Award. A select number of pieces with the most votes were chosen to appear in the Phipps Green Gallery located in the Center for Sustainable Landscapes from June to August 2025.
Fashion showcase winners pose with their awards. A panel of local judges awarded prizes for Most Sustainable, Most Wearable, and Best of Show. Photo by Kitoko Chargois.
Tepper School of Business first-year and Strategy and Communications intern Ameena George closes out the event by thanking attendees for coming. Photo by Kitoko Chargois.