The lower school art program at WCA is designed to instruct the student to understand and apply media, techniques, and processes to communicate their ideas visually, recognizing that each student’s creativity is a gift from and a reflection of our Heavenly Father, the Creator.

We explore art focused on the categories of: elements of art, art in history, art in cultures, and art for the seasons. We look at and examine many different types of art and provide opportunities for the student to understand the visual arts in relation to cross-curricular fields of knowledge. The student is encouraged to approach their artwork with originality, flexibility, fluency, and imagination.

Building on the foundations of Art and Design, MYP students delve deeper into the Elements and Principles of Design to further their exploration of 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional art. Examining art through the ages and the relativity of that art to current trends help students to have a greater perception of the world they experience daily and equip them to creatively influence their future.  Art inThe Middle Years Program is designed to prepare our students to excel at the DP level and consider an art-related career.

A feature unlike that of any other school in the area, our WCA Student Art Gallery is a space for the teaching, patronage, and appreciation of art, all under the school's roof. It contains cooperative displays from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond which will rotate periodically, as well as donations from Doug Brannon of the Outer Banks and Glenn Eure Gallery, and a permanent collection of donated international textiles, prints, and original oils. It also contains artwork by WCA students. The space is also a working gallery, as designated areas will allow for students to actually paint and create their masterpieces outside of the regular art classroom.

The gallery was completed in conjunction with the addition of an AP Art History course to WCA's high school curriculum offerings. The art displayed in the gallery will coincide with several courses including AP Art History, AP 2D/3D Art, World History, World Geography, Bible, and World Literature. The gallery may be viewed by all student age levels -- some of the pieces have been deliberately hung at lower levels on the wall so that even preschool and elementary students can easily enjoy them.

The art gallery's initial design was developed by alumnus and then student Elisabeth Powell ('16) through a 1-year independent study with Head of High School Dr. Dianna Lindsay. A repurposed second-floor hallway linking the middle and high schools, the gallery is easily accessible with drenched natural light. The SAG was implemented and constructed over several months prior to the start of the 2014 school year, with the help of high school students, their families, and staff members. The creation process included: removing outdated window treatments; stripping floors; sanding walls; sectioning spaces for painting; selecting colors and painting; constructing large crown molding frames for the exhibition of items from students, VMFA, and featured artists; designing, soliciting, and installing a permanent collection; collaborating with VMFA for two years of exhibits; and contacting visiting artists for exhibitions and gifts.

The Student Art Gallery earned WCA recognition as one of Virginia Living magazine's Top High Schools & Colleges 2014, an honor WCA earned again in 2021!