In honor of Black History month, students at Alexander Wilson Elementary School created a portrait gallery of African Americans who’ve made their mark in the arts.

Their portraits – which are life-size – are currently on display at the School District of Philadelphia headquarters as part of the annual Young Artists 2010 exhibition. This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Creative Set.” The work is the creation of fifth-graders in Ronald DeCecco's art class and students in Susan King's autistic support class.

The project began with students’ selecting a celebrity artist they particularly admired. Among the choosen were Tyra Banks, Beyonce, Bill Cosby, Jennifer Hudson, Michael Jackson, Rihanna, Faith Ringgold, Will Smith, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Damon Wayans, Oprah Winfrey, and Stevie Wonder.

Their selection made, the students then had to master the basics of portraiture. Under their teachers' guidance, they learned how to create skin tones with highlights and shadows and how to represent textures like hair and clothing. In addition, they wrote about their portraits and why they had selected their particular subject.

The Alexander Wilson Elementary School is a Penn Partnership School. The Young Artists exhibition is on display until mid-June at the School District of Philadelphia headquarters at 440 North Broad Street.

Portraits of Oprah Winfrey, Stevie Wonder, and Henry Ossawa Tanner, by Alexander Wilson fifth-graders.