Hii!!☆⌒(≧▽​° ) I’m Chaitra Doddi, a senior at Taft High School and a first year MOCA Teen. Coming from two families full of artists, I grew up exposed to countless forms of art. Traditional Indian motifs and colors have always enticed me and continue to showcase in my works. My most recent art hyper-fixations have been embroidery and ceramics. 

In my free time, I’m an avid watcher of TV shows (Anne with an E and Community) and animation (Puss in the Boots: The Last Wish). I will never shy away from trying new cuisines and collecting new experiences. My public library is one of my favorite places to be, and now I try to give back by tackling social and environmental issues through Teens Leading Change. At school, I’m part of the Speech & Debate and StudentsBuild teams where I get the chance to speak about problems and emotions I feel strongly about. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to explore the art world even further!

Hello! My name’s Olivia D’Annibale. My last name is pronounced da-knee-ba-lay not like the yogurt drink with the monkey mascot. I’m currently a junior at Samohi, however last year I went to Trinity School NYC. I just moved here from Manhattan, and yes, I miss the privilege of having The MET at the same walking distance as a Starbucks from my apartment. Ever since I was a toddler using crayons on diner menus to now gauche and color pencils on canvas I've loved creating art. At school I founded Portraits for Pups, a fundraising organization to help build exposure around the surplus of displaced animals after the Palisade fires and find them homes by commissioning pet portraits. I’d argue that reading for some helps them sleep at night but unfortunately getting into a good book before bed means I will develop an unhealthy sleeping schedule. My ideal afternoon is getting stuck in a Barnes and Nobles leather chair for hours until closing time. Fiction, fantasy, coming of age I love almost all genres (sorry to horror fans). I enjoy writing only if I've finished my APUSH homework in time. You'll often find me holding a beverage, either a matcha or shaken espresso depending on my mood. I play lacrosse as a midfielder; I almost love my stick as much as my paintbrush. To fuel all my extracurricular activities I decided I must also become an amazing cook. My dad’s sauce has always taken advantage of what little space we have left in the fridge but this summer I bargained for a small section dedicated to my farmers market finds and homemade hummus!

Hi, I'm Kana! I'm a senior attending Granada Hills Charter High School. Ever since I can remember, I've loved art. I grew up doing a lot of drawing, listening to music, and getting taken to art museums and classical music concerts. After entering high school and taking classes like AP Art History and AP Drawing, I started taking art more seriously and became particularly interested in contemporary art and art history. I'm super passionate about learning about art as well as developing my technical skills in drawing and painting! Outside of visual arts, I've played all kinds of instruments, including the cello, piano, and harp; nowadays, I play the koto. I also listen to a ton of different music genres... I'm trying to collect them all! Other than that, I spend my time playing video games, watching TV shows, reading, and sleeping. I'm obsessed with old internet stuff and Monster High, too!

Hii I’m Tehmina!! For as long as I can remember, art has been an outlet for my feelings, passions, and creativity. I love all forms of art, whether that means spending days on a large-scale painting or just doodling on a page of homework.

I’m a second-year MOCA Teen and currently a senior at Harvard-Westlake, and I love being a part of the visual arts program as well as being a leader of Stonecutters, our school’s art and literary magazine. Outside of school, I love spending time with family and friends, going to In and Out, and volunteering at my local dog shelter. Being a Parsi, South Asian, female is a huge part of my identity, and I strive to make the art world a more inclusive and representative space for all people. I also love watching movies and sitcoms, especially Modern Family. I’m so excited to be a part of the MOCA team!!

Hi! My name is Sasha, and I am a senior attending North Hollywood High School in the HGM program. Growing up, I remember every Mother’s Day, Christmas, birthday, etc. I would dedicate small artworks of scribbled crayons to my recipients. Before I knew it, what started out as small gestures of appreciation soon turned into a passion-filled commitment to creating art. Transferring this curiosity into personal creations, I now draw digitally—experimenting with perspectives, composition, and color. In hopes of conveying emotions and stories through my artworks, I view them as a medium of expression that never fails to provide a place of comfort. Alongside drawing, I enjoy making graphic designs for my school clubs, including the school-wide yearbook, TedX, literature and art magazine, robotics, and many more. Whenever I’m in deep focus, whether creating art or being irritated by Calculus homework, you will most likely find me listening to Day6 or Yorushika. 

Hi, I’m Bella Gomez! I’m a second-year MOCA Teen and a senior at John Marshall High School. I was born and raised in the now gentrified neighborhood of Echo Park. From a young age, I’ve always been fascinated by the arts, whether it was drawing, dancing, or music, I loved how each form gave me the freedom to express myself.

Lately, I’ve been focusing on photography. I love directing photoshoots with friends and experimenting creatively through my lens. My work has allowed me not only to explore social issues in my community, such as gentrification, but also to create mixed media, editorial style pieces that push me out of my comfort zone. Through my art, I aspire to dive deeper into my own identity, bring awareness to misrepresentation in my communities, and uplift the voices of those around me whose voices need to be heard.

Hii! My name is Maximus, I am a senior at Eagle Rock High and it’s my first year at MOCA teens. At a young age, I became invested in film. Studying film techniques, the elements of film, and finding out what makes a film stand out to me.  This has grown into a love for all forms of art including visual arts, music, and fashion. At my school I am currently involved in my DP art class which pushes my artistic capabilities to the limit through creating connected pieces of visual art that all fall under a chosen theme. In addition to DP art, I am currently the president of the fashion club at my school where we collaborate and have discussions on the implications of fashion on sustainability in society. In addition to an interest in art, I am also varsity on my teams cross country and track & field program, teaching valuable lessons in perseverance through long runs and dedication. Through MOCA Teens, I hope to explore the artworld in a new lens and challenge myself to collaborate and dedicate my time in the wonderfully creative world of art.

Hi, I’m Ignatius! I am a senior at Loyola High School and am honored to be a MOCA Teen Intern. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, I literally learned to walk by climbing up the stairs of the Museum of Contemporary Art, my first steps into the art world. Overwhelmed by the dizzying abundance of art all around me, I sometimes wonder if that was the moment my interest piqued. Whatever the case, little me walked (literally and figuratively) so I could run headfirst into the arts scene. These days, I am curious about how contemporary art responds to and informs culture, beyond divides. Collaborating alongside a group of teens with diverse interests, I hope to gain a multifaceted understanding of how artistic expression transcends differences to connect people across the globe through shared emotion.

Outside of MOCA, I presently serve as Creative Director of my school newspaper, Editor-in-Chief of my school’s Yearbook, and a Teen Council Member at the Oscars. You can usually find me watching movies far too critically, at In-N-Out, volunteering with Best Buddies, or taking long drives through Los Angeles to discover unexplored parts of the city.

Hey, I’m Daniel! I attend Woodrow Wilson High School and am a first year MOCA Teen. Growing up I’ve always had such a strong calling to anything related to art and creativity. Things like cartoons and animated movies latched to my brain like a parasite. That fondness for creativity bloomed further, developed now not only by cartoons, but books, comics, and literature. I always tried to recreate something akin to the things I loved the most. From then on, I developed my skills more and more, and now I truly can create things similar what I have loved all those years ago.

I’m lucky to attend Wilson, because I have been able to meet so many people, students and teachers alike, who will have a lasting impact on my life. Outside of school, I enjoy listening to music, reading, and watching movies/shows, especially any that are horror related. I also volunteer at various events and programs held by my church.

Hi everyone! My name is Joovy, and I’m a junior at Westridge School. You can always find me at my happiest when I’m in front of my sewing machine, with pop music blasting through my headphones, and with a half-finished peppermint mocha sitting nearby. As an avid theater kid, I spend most of my afternoons tucked away in my school’s costume shop, where I work as both a designer and the lead seamstress. A lot of my inspiration comes from both history and the world around me; one my favorite designs these few years have come from researching Edwardian fashion plates and magazines. 

Outside of theater, I run a service-based club called Plushies with Purpose at my school where we collect pre-loved plushies from the community and donate them to under-resourced children. That is where I first discovered my interest in sustainability and textile waste. On weekends, I also work as a teaching assistant, where I help kids learn abacus math.

More recently, I’ve gotten involved with archiving at my local museum and have also been learning the art of flower pressing and preservation from my aunt. No matter what I’m doing, I’m always looking for ways to create, connect, and make a positive impact in my community.

Hi I’m Sian and I am a senior at Crossroads School for Arts and Sciences. I live in Santa Monica and I love to make, appreciate, and talk about art. I do ceramics, paint, draw, collage, and I also co-curate the gallery at my school! Aside from art, I like to read, watch movies/tv shows, go to the beach, and spend time with my friends. I am always listening to music so yes talk to me about that I love to know what kind of music people are into. My favorite animals are manatees, cats, and monkeys! 

Hi! I'm Adrian, a current senior at Bravo Medical Magnet High School. I'm an East LA native, yet I was raised for a bit in Morelia, Mexico. I've been crazy about reading, a bit of poetry, and studio arts. Murakami and Camus are my favorite authors, while the entire Die Brücke group has established itself as my favorite painters/printmakers. I started to learn that art was an essential part of me by shading figures with colored lip balm, sketching countless misshapen faces, and doodling in the margins of my biology notes. Building a collection of postcards from museums has been another way I've built my love for art. All of this influence eventually pushed me to oil paint, linoleum/woodblock prints, charcoal, and conté.

Although my school, as you could probably tell from the word medical, doesn't have a strong arts department. I’ve sort of made it my mission to change this, with the much-needed help of a few others. Cohosting galleries with student-decided themes are examples of this. Besides that, I have also done talks in small cohorts of students, leading them through a guided painting (sort of Bob Ross-like, yet at a much smaller scale). I hope that I can build off from these experiences and advocate for further conversations of art as a core class and overall vital part of a school’s curriculum.

Hi! My name is Esther, and I’m a senior at LACES who’s all about living life with energy, creativity, and connection. As someone who thrives on building relationships, I’ve always loved finding ways to give back to my community. At school, I’m part of the charity committee in our leadership class, and beyond that, I serve as National Senior Vice President for a community-based nonprofit, as well as Vice President of an organization that helps kids on the spectrum express themselves through art. Art has become a powerful outlet for me. I only began exploring it at the start of my junior year, but it’s quickly become central to how I express myself. From creating fashion pieces to building installations that challenge norms, I’ve found so much joy in pushing my creative boundaries. My passion for art even led me to participate in the 2025 Miss Teen Chunhyang, where I had the chance to share my work and ideas. I’m so excited to join the MOCA Teen Program and to bring my energy, creativity, and enthusiasm to the group. I can’t wait to collaborate, learn from others, and contribute my unique perspective to this vibrant Community.

Hello! I’m Sophia Awan. I’m a junior at Crescenta Valley High School and a first year intern at MOCA. I’ve had a passion for nearly all forms of art since my early childhood. I spend a lot of my time singing, writing, or drawing. I love trying new things—be it through new foods in foreign countries or a unique perspective in a new novel. My perspective on art is that there is no such thing as one right way to portray your point of view. I want to experiment with my own art more this year, incorporating more mixed media elements. My other, non art-related interests include learning about history, watching movies, traveling and reading books.

As of right now, I am a section leader in my school’s chamber choir, Editor-in-Chief of my school’s literary and arts magazine, an occasional teacher’s assistant in a local art camp for children, and an editor and reviewer for Skipping Stones magazine. As I grew up in the United Kingdom, I hope to return there for university and I plan to study English Literature.

Hey, Hola, and Bonjour! My name is Yazmin, but you can call me Yaz! This is my first year as a MOCA Teen, and I’m so excited to be part of this community. I’m a junior at Azusa High School with a passion for painting, drawing, and photography. When I’m not creating, you can usually find me hanging out with friends, exploring new places, watching movies, or playing video games. Art is a huge part of who I am, and I’m beyond grateful for the chance to grow and share it through MOCA Teens…Find me on @uhhyaziii & @yaziii.art ⋆𐙚₊˚⊹♡

Hi! I’m Tallie and I’m a senior at Geffen Academy at UCLA and a first-year MOCA teen. I’m a visual artist, mainly a painter, and creating has always been how I digest the world around me. To say the least, art is a huge part of my identity and I deeply enjoy work that pushes boundaries and challenges the dominant discourse. I’m also a student at Ryman Arts, a program I’m set to graduate from this spring. Outside of art, I run cross country and track for my school’s varsity team, I’m a bassist, and I’m a co-lead of two school based clubs: the Radio Club and the Philosophy Club. Among my favorite musical artists are Elliott Smith, Juliana Hatfield, and Machine Girl. In terms of philosophy, I’m partial to Nietzsche and Judith Butler.  I’m very focused on intersectionality in every sense of the word: whether it’s related to identity markers in social justice, the interaction of natural or social sciences and art, or how music can inform visual art, I aim to look at the world through a multi-dimensional lens whenever I can.

Hi, my name is Sergio. I’m a senior at Cathedral High School and I am a first-year MOCA Teen! I grew up in the LA neighborhood of Montecito Heights, and I’ve been interested in the arts since I was a kid. I was lucky enough to have field trips to MOCA when I was in elementary school and through that, I broadened my perspective in art. I’m fascinated in the expression and politics portrayed in different artworks, such as seeing art in my culture with Frida Kahlo’s artworks and Josefina Lόpez’s playwriting at Casa 0101. Also, I learned about the history of the Zoot Suit Riots and of the discrimination against Mexicans at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes. Understanding the Zoot Suits as an artistic expression of political defiance which extended throughout the Chicano Movement really influenced me to learn more about my culture in art and the politics behind many art pieces. Art Mediums I enjoy the most are photography/photo editing and music artistry. I also enjoy using Photoshop to edit photos or create posters for my school. Music artistry is large passion of mine and I hope one day that I can become a music artist myself. I’m very passionate about the production of music as well as the story and persona that an artist can create while making music. Some of my favorite artists currently are Charli XCX and Magdalena Bay. During my free time, I like to hang out with friends, go to concerts, theme parks, and photography. Also, when I have time, I work on my school’s yearbook and practice lines for my school’s live morning show, which I’m anchoring for the first time. Mindfulness and meditation are very important to me and something I practice daily, along with positive affirmations. I believe that these are key methods to being calm and happy, even during a time of stress and chaos.

Hiii I’m Yorgelys or more well known as Yoyo, child of Mexicans but raised here in America. I'm a senior from Legacy Vapa Highschool. I’m new to moca museum, I'm super excited to be a participant!

Some of my hobbies include fashion, photography, writing, sketching, gaming, and sculpting. I'm not particularly amazing at any of these but they all bring me common joy and frustration at times. Each one of these are an expressive art medium for me!

I've always taken an interest in art since I was little, my mom has always been my inspiration for both art and life. I love creating and consuming art no matter the medium. In life I'm constantly inspired by my friends and family. Whenever I see my friends so passionate about their goals and dreams it brings me joy. It's a reminder that I can also have goals and passions and not just live vicariously through them. I've lived most my life trying to survive and not preparing for a future that might not come. But as people and time pass me I've realized while tomorrow is never promised, I’m still living and can prepare for a happier future. Art is life to me, no one will know every step and thought you've had throughout your life. Just like you'll never know each draft and stroke in a painting. But both can end up with an absolute masterpiece worthy of celebration.