The Crown & Glory Project
The Crown & Glory Project is a dynamic and ongoing photo series that celebrates underrepresented emerging young creatives within marginalized communities of New York City. Spearheaded by photographer, teaching artist, and founder of The Creative Youth Society, Sharon Miller, this project challenges creative youth across New York City to build DIY crowns using unconventional and found materials that represent their unique and artistic personal identities. In addition to being models, subjects of this project also act as photographers, creating photo portraits of each other wearing their handcrafted crowns that celebrate their individuality and self-expression as future creative leaders.
Participants of the 2023 Crown & Glory Project are Sharon’s actual photography and visual arts students, selected from various organizations where she has served as a teaching artist, including her own organization, The Creative Youth Society, as well as NeOn Arts, Artistic Noise, and Groundswell Mural Project.
Through this exhibit, Sharon hopes to inspire others to recognize the potential that exists within young people in marginalized communities and to support their artistic endeavors. By collaborating with students from diverse backgrounds and experiences, The Crown & Glory Project seeks to highlight the range of creative talent and perspectives present in underrepresented emerging young creatives across the City of New York and eventually the globe!
The Crown & Glory Project was selected and featured in the 2023 Photoville Festival! Congratulations to all of the youth participants!
Thank You to the participating 2023 youth models/photographers: Israel, Joe, Nia, Helenney, Shalai, Puff, Jacquelien, Sekou, Beatrice, Nadheerah, Joshua, Linda, Chey, Jayden, Jasmine, Faith Alexandria, Calyssa, Imani, Shaniyah, & Eleiona. You all did AMAZING!
We would also like to thank our collaborating partners in this project, NeOn Arts, Artistic Noise, and Groundswell Mural Project NYC
CYS Members exhibit their Crown & Glory Project at Carnegie Hall in partnership with NeOn Arts!
View Gallery from Event Below
CYS members pose next to their Crown & Glory Exhibit at Carnegie Hall in NYC, in partnership with NeOn Arts
The Crown & Glory Project on exhibit at Carnegie Hall in NYC, in partnership with NeOn Arts
The Creative Youth Society founder, Sharon Miller standing in front of her own Crown & Glory portrait exhibited at Carnegie Hall in NYC, in partnership with NeOn Arts
CYS founder, Sharon Miller extremely proud of her CYS students' photography work on display at Carnegie Hall in NYC, in partnership with NeOn Arts
Carnegie Hall guests interact with The Crown & Glory Project on exhibit at Carnegie Hall, NYC, in partnership with NeOn Arts
The Crown & Glory Project presented on the big screen at Carnegie Hall in NYC, in partnership with NeOn Arts
CYS members posing in front of their Crown & Glory Exhibit at Carnegie Hall, NYC, in partnership with NeOn Arts
An exhibit guest admires the work of CYS members at Carnegie Hall, NYC, in partnership with NeOn Arts
CYS Member shows off her recent "Miss Earth" title win while posing in front of her Crown & Glory Portrait on exhibition at Carnegie Hall, NYC, in partnership with NeOn Arts
CYS member poses next to her Crown & Glory portrait on exhibit at Carnegie Hall in NYC, in partnership with NeOn Arts
CYS member poses next to her Crown & Glory portrait on exhibit at Carnegie Hall in NYC, in partnership with NeOn Arts
CYS member poses next to her Crown & Glory portrait on exhibit at Carnegie Hall in NYC, in partnership with NeOn Arts
CYS member poses next to her Crown & Glory portrait on exhibit at Carnegie Hall in NYC, in partnership with NeOn Arts
CYS members hold their Crown & Glory portraits, which were gifted to them after their exhibit at Carnegie Hall, NYC, in partnership with NeOn Arts
CYS Members building their personalized DIY crowns for their Crown & Glory photo project during a Creative Youth Society workshop
CYS Members building their personalized DIY crowns for their Crown & Glory photo project during a Creative Youth Society workshop
CYS Members building their personalized DIY crowns for their Crown & Glory photo project during a Creative Youth Society workshop
CYS Members building their personalized DIY crowns for their Crown & Glory photo project during a Creative Youth Society workshop
CYS Members painting their personalized DIY crowns for their Crown & Glory photo project during a Creative Youth Society workshop
CYS member behind the camera during the making of The Crown & Glory Project
CYS member poses for the camera during the making of The Crown & Glory Project
CYS members plan their model shoot during the making of The Crown & Glory Project
CYS members photograph each other with skills they learned during the CYS INFOCUS! photography workshop for their Crown & Glory project.
A CYS member's crown created for The Crown & Glory project
A CYS member's crown created for The Crown & Glory project
CYS members building their crowns for The Crown & Glory Project, at the CYS media studio.
CYS member building her crown for The Crown & Glory Project, at the CYS media studio.
CYS member poses with the beginning stagers of her crown for The Crown & Glory Project, at the CYS media studio.
CYS members building their crown for The Crown & Glory Project, at the CYS media studio.
CYS member building her crown for The Crown & Glory Project, at the CYS media studio.
CYS member poses with the beginning stagers of his crown for The Crown & Glory Project, at the CYS media studio.
Crown being built for The Crown & Glory Project, at the CYS media studio.
CYS member poses with his finished crown for The Crown & Glory Project, at the CYS media studio.
Artistic Noise Youth build crowns for The Crown & Glory Project
Artistic Noise Youth build crowns for The Crown & Glory Project
Artistic Noise Youth build crowns for The Crown & Glory Project
Artistic Noise Youth build crowns for The Crown & Glory Project
Artistic Noise Youth build crowns for The Crown & Glory Project
Artistic Noise Youth build crowns for The Crown & Glory Project
Artistic Noise Youth build crowns for The Crown & Glory Project
Israel
Joe
Nia
Helenny
Shalai
Puff
Jacquelien
Sekou
Beatrice
Nadheerah
Joshua
Linda
Chey
Jayden
Jasmine
Katy
Alexandria
Imani
Calyssa
Shaniyah
Sharon (Founder of The Creative Youth Society & Teaching Artist)