Surreal spaces and emotional traces: 2025 House Art Competition winners

For the 2025 Middle School House Art Competition, students explored the theme ‘Out of Place’, interpreting ideas of physical and emotional displacement, as well as unexpected or surreal juxtapositions. From urban landscapes merged with nature to out-of-context objects and abstract concepts, students challenged perception through a wide range of mediums—painting, sculpture, photography, video, digital art, Photoshop, and Blender. 

Year 9 students embraced the theme with a strong preference for digital work. First place went to William Beresford for his striking Blender piece depicting migrants on a raft drifting through a towering, indifferent city—an image of hope set against alienation. 

In Year 10, Solomon Eames earned first place for his emotive video where torn family portraits fused into a kaleidoscope of identities. A special mention should also go to Joshua Osobo in second place for his powerful drawing of a partially hidden face, where expressive hands symbolized both protection and vulnerability. 

Year 11 entries continued to impress. Hayato Fujisawa-Van Benschoten’s Photoshop piece placed a classical statue balancing an abstract form in a surreal void, merging ancient and modern imagery.  

Two standout overall winners emerged from this year competition: Ryan Jafer’s hyper-rendered drawings conveyed themes of veiled identity and emotional dislocation, while Xavier Blackburn’s mesmerizing Blender video pushed the limits of digital expression. 

Congratulations to House Raleigh, this year’s overall winners. Be sure to check out the full video showcasing all winning and highly commended entries—a stunning collection of creativity and insight from across the school.