Adelynn Anderson ’18, Amaal Ladha ’18: Pia Singh ‘19 and Cerena Robertson ‘19, two EA students, have blended their artistic talent and social media expertise with their increasingly popular arts Instagram accounts. In a world progressively dependent on technology, these Instagram accounts have become an effective way to share artistic expertise and provoke discussion.
According to Pew Research Center, 92% of teens have daily access to social media. Celebrities have mastered the practice of using social media as a means of creating a platform for themselves. These EA students have mimicked the same use of social media as a way of spreading their talent.
Pia Singh ‘19 started her latest instagram account @piaartista last January to feature her hyperrealistic drawings, paintings, and sketches. She now has 71 posts and 4,670 followers (as of December 2016). Singh explains, “I started my first account a couple of years ago because I thought it would be cool to share my artwork with people and get it out there. It’s really encouraging to get comments from strangers around the world about how my art has inspired them to create something of their own.” She brings her independent passion for the arts to the Episcopal Academy community by taking visual art classes and working often in the studio. She shared, “I’ve taken art every year at Episcopal and it has definitely taught me a lot about my interests, shortcomings, and strengths and has helped me grow as an artist. [Art classes] are really opening and teach me lessons that can be applied in the studio and in my personal and academic life.”
Cerena Robertson ‘19 also has a reputation throughout Episcopal Academy’s community as being an up and coming artist. She, in addition to Singh, has an Instagram account with which she shares her art, both the process and finished products. Robertson created her account two summers ago, and now has a total of 13,900 followers and over 400 posts (as of December 2016). Her drawing, sketching, and painting posts allows her to express her thoughts and channel a creative voice that inspires others. In describing her most influential piece, Robertson explains, “It is one person, but half of her face is of a black girl and the other half is of a white girl. They both represent the beauty standards of the black and white communities. Through that painting I expressed my frustration with society. Growing up I always heard that lighter [skin] is better.” She went on to explain that social media has been her means of sharing her passion with the world. She concluded that she continues to pursue her Instagram account for the sake of her artwork, not for the sake of achieving popularity.
“My art doesn’t revolve around social media. I make art because it is my passion. I use social media to share it. Sharing my work encourages me to make more art,” Robertson explains. “It makes me feel good that people of Instagram love the meaning behind my paintings and my expression [of various topics.] It touches a lot of people, and it touches me as well.” She attributes much of her success as an artist to the art classes she has completed at EA as well as to the EA art department, specifically David Sigel, Chair of the Art Department.
Singh and Robertson, up and coming instagram artists, continue to lead the arts at EA, inspiring students with their social media platforms.

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