At the age of 18, Liam Seitz, a senior at Lower Dauphin High School (LDHS), is already an accomplished artist and an entrepreneur. He creates and sells original hand-painted clothing and is skilled in the art of oil painting.

His most recent accomplishment was creating a wood panel self-portrait that was chosen to be part of a Youth Art Month display that is currently on view in the rotunda of the state Capitol in Harrisburg. Liam was chosen for the honor after winning Best in High School Division in a contest sponsored by the Pennsylvania Art Education Association (PAEA).

Unbeknownst to him, Dana Attivo, LDHS art teacher, submitted Liam's work to the PAEA contest. "Members of PAEA are invited to submit up to five pieces of art," Attivo explained. "There were over 1,500 works submitted from across the state from public and private schools at the kindergarten through 12th-grade levels. All the work is submitted (digitally). The work is then juried, and the pieces selected for an award are printed onto banners and hung in the rotunda at the state Capitol building for the month of March to showcase the work and bring awareness to the importance of art in education."

Liam's winning artwork features him swiftly walking by a set of framed images. Each image pictures items of clothing, including blue jeans and sneakers. The theme of the work is consumerism and how people rarely think of those who create the clothing that they wear every day.

"In each of the frames are piles of clothing or items of clothing. I am walking past them and not observing or caring at all," Liam explained. "(The artwork is) a statement on the fashion industry. I am into sustainability and recycling, especially with textiles. It was a take on consumerism and mindless buying of clothing."

The painting also feature eyes looking out from each of the frames. "I tried to put many elements into it. I paint eyeballs a lot," Liam commented. "I put them sort of as the eyes judging the repercussions of the fashion industry. My view is straightforward, but the eyes are observing it all."

Liam has studied fine art as an elective in each of his four years of high school. "In addition to that, I am the president of the school's National Art Honor Society," he pointed out. "I took classes through the Art Association of Harrisburg this summer in oil painting and clay sculpture. I have been painting seriously since 2020 when I was quarantined."

In addition to art, Liam can be found on weekends selling clothing at local venues. "Right now, my art is how I make my money. I sell at art festivals and flea markets when I'm not in school," he stated. "I do oil paintings, but I also make clothing and paint on clothing. I have a rack (of clothing) in a vintage store in Harrisburg."

Liam plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh this fall. His tentative plans include majoring in marketing or finance with a minor in studio art or fine art.

Liam said he would be limited if his only option was to earn a living through his art, which is why he is considering other areas of study. "I worry that I would lose inspiration and kill my own passion. I would have no options other than to paint," he shared. "The times I make the best things are when I am free to do whatever I want."

Liam said that he plans to visit the exhibit at the Capitol sometime this month to view his own artwork on display as well as the pieces that have been submitted by the other students.