Make way for Elizabeth Oluwasekemi Enoch!
The Bliss Carman Middle School Grade 8 student was one of a number of middle and high school student artists chosen nationwide as a runner-up finalist in the Art Canada Institute’s 2025 Canadian Art Inspiration Student Challenge. She received $250 and her art will be featured in an exhibition at Art Toronto 2025.
The recognition was a welcome reward for the artist, who has been working on her craft since she was in Grade 2.
“I got my first sketchbook in class, and I would draw little scenes of the park or just people living,” Enoch said. “It wasn’t very good at first because I was pretty young then, but I did teach myself how to draw realism because that’s my favorite art style. Over the years I’ve been trying to perfect it.”
Her age belies a realistic outlook on her pathway as an artist. “I’ve mostly just been doing art for myself. I guess that comes with being an artist.”
All modesty aside, Enoch has been asked to create paintings of family and friends, for family and friends, her first commissions of a sort.
Her maturity and commitment to her craft caught the notice of her art teacher, Chloe McCollum. This year, Enoch took part in McCollum’s after-school art enrichment program and has become a mentor to other students, while honing her craft.
“Every time she has an opportunity to try something new, she does it and she’ll work on it and work on it until she’s perfecting it,” she said. “I’m very proud of her because this award is a huge accomplishment at this age.”
McCollum is also impressed with Enoch’s unique artistic vision “in the sense of realism because not a lot of younger artists choose to work in that medium because it tends to be difficult.”
And on her role as an in-class mentor, Enoch said, “I like to help people discover new things and teach them about stuff that I know they want to learn about. So, if they need help with something, I’m always open.”
She’s even been teaching a friend how to sew “because that’s a skill a lot of people don’t have anymore.”
Giant (next) steps
As she has been doing since Grade 2, Enoch plans to keep working to perfect her craft during high school. Her long-term post-secondary goal is to attend the Toronto Fashion Academy.
“We’ve seen her also growing in the sense of textiles because she’s also been using our sewing machine,” McCollum said.
Said Enoch, “Part of my artist statement for the contest was talking about how someone could reach her goal. She had the divine power in herself to do great things. So as artists, we should always reflect, believe in ourselves, and believe in our artwork so that we can keep moving forward.”
“Part of my artist statement for the contest was talking about how someone could reach her goal. She had the divine power in herself to do great things. So as artists, we should always reflect, believe in ourselves, and believe in our artwork so that we can keep moving forward.”
Bliss Carman Middle School Grade 8 student
Elizabeth Oluwasekemi Enoch