Wasted Youth is a powerful contemporary sculpture that transforms an AR-15—an object synonymous with modern American tragedy—into a striking commentary on the systemic crisis of school shootings. Sculpted entirely from colored pencils, the piece juxtaposes the innocence of childhood with the stark reality of violence that has seeped into places meant to nurture and protect. The vibrant pencils, once tools of creativity and learning, are reformed into the silhouette of a weapon, symbolizing futures cut short and youthful potential redirected toward fear instead of imagination. The fragile, hand-crafted structure mirrors the fragility of the lives affected, inviting viewers to consider how society has allowed symbols of education to collide so violently with instruments of harm. Both visually arresting and emotionally unsettling, Wasted Youth challenges onlookers to confront not just individual tragedies, but the broader cultural and institutional failures that allow them to persist. It is a call to awareness, accountability, and change—expressed through a medium traditionally associated with growth, growth now transformed into a plea for protection. Ideal for galleries, social-justice exhibitions, and collectors seeking artwork that speaks boldly to one of the most urgent issues of our time. 36" x 17" x 8" November 2023. Colored pencil and epoxy resin sculpture on a walnut base.
