Join us in the galleries for an unforgettable night of poetry led by the MFA Teen Poetry Fellows! After weeks of exploring art and creative writing with MFA educators and community poet mentors, these young poets will share their original poems inspired by artworks at the museum. These dynamic readings will mark the culmination of their fellowship, highlighting their personal reflections and creative expressions. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the voices of the next generation of poets!

MFA Teen Poetry Night
Thursday, February 20, 2025
6:00 PM–8:00 PM

Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg
255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg FL 33701

Free for MFA Members; $15 for Not-Yet-Members (Youth 17 and under are Free!)*

*Program ticket includes Art After Dark admission from 5:00 PM–8:00 PM! Arrive early or stay late to explore the MFA Collection Galleries, Special Exhibitions, and MFA Shop!

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ABOUT THE STUDENT POETS

Adilana Estro
Adilana Estro is very passionate about poetry . She uses it to express thoughts, feelings, and emotions. She enjoys writing about personal challenges. She also uses poetry to communicate how she experiences the world around her concisely with her audience. Outside of poetry she finds joy in playing guitar and ukulele and writing original songs. When she is not writing or playing music she volunteers with CompassionKind, her sister’s rescue organization. Her biggest aspiration is to share her work and inspire others.

Ajuni Singh
Ajuni Singh is a junior at Howard W. Blake high school of the arts as a creative writing major, where she mainly writes plays, scripts, and songs. While she is not an avid poetry writer, she finds poetry to be a quintessential mode of storytelling which often leaves people reflecting and feeling, augmenting the interconnection of human beings within a larger context. Outside of writing, she enjoys singing in and out of shower, and giving her puppy some good rubs. In the future, Ajuni aspires to be a singer-songwriter making music that can bring someone into their feels.

Alistair Faylo
Alistair Faylo is a junior at Hollins High, where he’s the president of his school’s literacy team. His poetry tends to draw from his own experiences and emotions, finding awe in the beautiful, terrible, screw-it-all of the human experience. Recently he’s been trying to branch out and find other sources for his poetry, trying most recently to work with irony and satire. Outside of his writing, Alistair likes to draw, read, and write other genres like fiction. Alistair hopes to one day teach Creative Writing at the high school or college level and help others find that creative spark.

Ava Elizabeth John
Ava Elizabeth John is a senior in the IB program at St. Pete High where she serves as the Editor-in-Chief of Florida’s oldest student-run high school newspaper, the Palmetto & Pine, and the President of English Honor Society. Her writing revolves around connecting the reader to the art through intricate details and vivid imagery and has been featured in the Tampa Bay Times, Boston Terrier, Smith College Anthology, and Neptune Magazine. She plans to attend college in the Northeast and major in writing.

Bomin Kwon
Bomin Kwon is a junior at Wiregrass Ranch High School and has always had a fascination with the arts. Starting from visual arts to music and now to literature, Bomin deeply appreciates the spectrum of interpretations they give to the audience. She is interested in how words can express ideas and experiences in unique, impactful ways. While she is drawn to the logic and problem-solving aspects of the sciences–hoping to pursue a career in such fields– Bomin greatly values the power of literature in shaping perceptions and communication. Through poetry, she hopes to become a refined writer.

Danica Johnson
Danica Johnson is a 10th grader at Hollins HS. Last year, her poetry was published in the Hollins HS magazine: “Revelations”. Most recently, she was awarded the Silver Key and Honorable Mention Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for two of her poems through the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. Her work is often personal drawing on her experiences and emotions. She is looking forward to growing as an artist through a variety of mediums such as writing, painting, and drawing.

Josephine Maier
Josephine Maier is a junior in the creative writing program at Blake High School. She enjoys exploring different kinds of writing such as screenwriting and a variety of prose genres, but poetry calls to her the most. Josephine uses poetry to explore the nuances of her own emotions and channel the emotions of others. She enjoys writing during thunderstorms when the charged energy outside reflects the turmoil within. Outside of writing, Josephine is often found playing with her seven dogs and two cats, drinking tea, and reading classic literature.

Kaleigh Breivis
Kaleigh Breivis is in eleventh grade at Howard W Blake high school. She draws inspiration for her poems from her background in fine arts as well as the desire to understand the complexities of our natural world. Kaleigh moved from Los Angeles California to Tampa Florida during the pandemic, using her experiences to motivate her perspective and words. Outside of writing Kaleigh enjoys metalsmithing, reading, and advocating for a sustainable future.

Merlyn Thompson
Merlyn Thompson is a freshman at Northeast High School. He has a deep love for all of the arts and loves to explore every channel. He writes most of his poetry on the world around him and his view on it. With a very open mind on tasks at hand executing tasks with bounds of creativity. You live once might as well live it to your fullest by being as creative as you can be.

Nadia J. Hardy
Nadia J. Hardy is a freshman at Lakewood High School’s Center for Advanced Technologies (CAT) Program, Class of 2028, ranking in the top 15% of her class. She’s a Take Stock in Children Scholar and a 2025-2026 Their Stories, Our Voices Youth Griot, passionate about arts, culture, and storytelling. As a sports news anchor for her school’s morning news, she keeps students updated on the latest athletic highlights. When she’s not studying, Nadia loves being creative, connecting with her community, and spending time with friends. Through the MFA Teen Poetry Fellowship, she’s excited to grow as a writer and connect with other poets and creatives.

Image: Felix Gonzalez-Torres, American, b. Cuba, 1957-1996, “Untitled” (L.A.), 1991, Green candies in clear wrappers, endless supply, Overall dimensions vary with installation, Original dimensions: approximately 192 x 14 x 1 1/2 inches, Original weight: 50 lbs, Jointly owned by Art Bridges and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art AB.2018.20.

Generous support for this project provided by Art Bridges.