By Parvi Anand
Love is usually expressed through words, actions, or moments we remember. But for millennia, people have also shown love through art. Paintings, sculptures, books, and handmade creations often express feelings that are hard to explain out loud, especially if we aren’t Shakespeare or Taylor Swift.
Most often, we show our love THROUGH art, but sometimes we fall in love WITH art. Take the Greek myth of Pygmalion, for example: a sculptor creates a statue of his ideal woman named Galatea and falls deeply in love with her. His love is so strong that the goddess Aphrodite brings the statue to life. While that may be a myth, it shows how powerful art can be and how real emotions can form through it.
To see how students today connect love and art, we sent out a school-wide survey asking what artwork reminds them of love. The responses varied widely. Some students named famous works like The Kiss by Gustav Klimt, The Birth of Venus by Botticelli, and Psyche Revived by Cupid’s Kiss. Others mentioned Romeo and Juliet, explaining that literature is also a form of art. Modern examples included the iconic New York City photo of a sailor kissing a nurse and the book Red Rising, and artwork showing a repeating couple from a student’s family collection.
Some of the most meaningful responses were simple and personal. One student wrote about making a homemade poster to ask someone to be their girlfriend. Another said that anything handmade feels like love. These answers show that love in art is not always about famous works, but also about meaning and intention.
This idea connects closely to how Mr. Smith, the Upper School Fine Arts teacher who teaches ceramics and foundations of art, views love in art. He explained that he first fell in love with art because it could be useful. “Someone once gave me a handmade cup,” he said. “When I used it, I felt a connection to the person who made it.”
As a teacher, Mr. Smith enjoys watching students grow through the creative process. “Art can be frustrating at first,” he said, “but I love seeing the moment when things finally make sense and students get excited about their work.”
For Mr. Smith, love in art comes from both the process and the final product. He believes artists should enjoy making something by hand, while also caring about how others will experience it. “I want people to see the thought behind what I made and feel that I enjoyed making it,” he explained.
Art can also help people express emotions they cannot easily put into words. Mr. Smith believes this is especially true in ceramics. “There is a quiet language in art,” he said. “Sometimes you don’t even realize what you’re expressing until the piece is finished.”
Creating art can also teach students self-love and patience. In ceramics, mistakes happen often. Clay can collapse, crack, or turn out differently than expected. Instead of seeing these moments as failures, students learn to accept them as part of the process. “A lot of times things don’t work out the way you want them to,” Mr. Smith said. “You learn to enjoy the process and be kind to yourself instead of calling it a mistake.”
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, ceramics classes take part in a special project. Students create small bud vases using two pinch pots and usually glaze them in pinks and reds. “The day before Valentine’s Day, I bring ion flowers for the students,” Mr. Smith explained, “and they get to choose some and make a small arrangement for someone they love.”
When asked about his favorite romantic works of art, Mr. Smith pointed to ceramic artist Ayumi Horie. Her work often shows love in playful and subtle ways, including birds, hearts, and reflections. “Sometimes the love is obvious, and sometimes it’s more quiet,” he said. What makes her work especially meaningful to him is that it is functional. “Sharing cookies on a plate or having tea with someone from a pitcher and cup set becomes an act of love,” Mr. Smith explained.
So next time you’re confused about your feelings… maybe just make someone a piece of art instead!
