Featured Exhibit: Sydney Pinkerton - Critters & Characters

Visit the Granville Center for the Arts gallery to explore Critters & Characters, an imaginative debut solo exhibition by 12-year-old artist Sydney Pinkerton.

Sydney’s work is full of personality, curiosity, and discovery. Blending intricate pen-and-ink linework with vibrant colors, she creates expressive characters and whimsical creatures, each one developing its own identity as it comes to life. Some begin with a clear idea, others emerge from a single shape and evolve naturally through the process. You’ll also find her playful “blob-like” creatures, inspired in part by the spirit of Studio Ghibli, clustering and multiplying in ways that feel both joyful and a little unpredictable.

A defining element of the exhibition is her use of reclaimed vinyl record sleeves as canvas. Drawn to their warmth and texture, Sydney gives these materials a second life, turning something worn into something entirely new. It’s a reflection of how she sees the world: full of possibility, ready to be reimagined, and always open to surprise.

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At the Granville Center for the Arts, we uplift, champion, mentor, and create opportunities for artists at every stage, not just established artists, but talented young artists, too. When they’re given real opportunities and support, voices grow, confidence builds, and the whole community gets to witness what’s possible. Critters & Characters is a powerful example of what’s possible when spaces like the arts center exist.