An art exhibition launched by the American International School of Guangzhou (AISG) is turning student creativity into support for left-behind children in rural Guangdong through a charity auction.
The school's Spring 2026 Community Art Exhibition, themed "A Shared Canvas of Growth", opened on May 19 at Uno Art Space and runs through May 26. The public exhibition features more than 180 works created by students across all three IB programmes, including the Diploma Programme (DP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Primary Years Programme (PYP).
Alongside the exhibition, student-donated artworks will be auctioned to raise funds for Shining Star, a non-profit organization that supports underprivileged children and teenagers through education and mental health programmes.
Summer Tan, co-founder of Shining Star, said the donations will help fund resilience-building courses for left-behind children in rural Guangdong, as well as extracurricular activities such as basketball and dance clubs.
Among the student artists contributing to the auction is Grade 12 student Sophie Zhong, who donated an installation reflecting on her experience growing up between languages and cultures as a multilingual student.
"After left-behind children grow up, they may leave home and move to another place and a new environment," she said. "They may have feelings similar to mine."
For Zhong, creating emotional resonance through art remains her most important goal, but she said it is also meaningful when artworks can offer practical help to others.
The exhibition also features a community mural project in Meishan Village, Panyu District, Guangzhou. The mural was created by AISG members of the National Art Honor Society, together with AISG teachers and staff, volunteers from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, and representatives from Shining Star.
The exhibition is open to the public from May 20 to 26, with free admission.
Reporter | Chen Siyuan
Photo | AISG
