The creative youth who comprise the Henry Teen Art Collective continued to develop their artistic practices and engage with the issues most affecting them in this time of a widespread pandemic, social isolation, and uprisings in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. When the closure of the Henry and the shelter-in-place orders prevented the collective from meeting in person, the youth had to get creative in adapting the projects and plans they had already been working on to this new climate. The collective continued to meet weekly over Zoom and completed three projects remotely: a collaborative drawing, a video on the passing of time, and this virtual self portrait exhibition. Self portraits give the collective the opportunity to represent themselves and bring digital presence and cohesion to a close-knit group that was suddenly dispersed. As we are all asked to confront what safety and isolation entail for each of us, these portraits offer snapshots of adjusting to an ever uncertain future. They contain reference, however private, to what this moment means to each of these teens and, too, may enact reflection as the ever new present offers new possibilities.

In 2016, the Henry Teen Art Collective was formed by Henry staff and a group of 15–18 year old individuals from schools across Seattle. These motivated and art-curious teens created a program that uses the Henry as a starting point for exploring interests in museums and the arts community. Each year, a group of new and returning members gather to build community around contemporary art and current issues through meet-ups with artists, creative professionals, and members of the Henry staff. The collective plans events, creates art and special projects, and tracks their activities and ideas through Instagram @henry_teens.