The Youth for Human Rights International Washington, DC chapter awarded its Artist of the Year 2025 honor to native Washingtonian Patrick S. Smith during a January art exhibit at the Fraser Mansion as part of the monthly First Friday: Art Walk Dupont Circle. The award recognized Smith's "outstanding participation and artistic excellence at Art Walk Dupont Circle, Church of Scientology National Affairs Office," according to a press release.
The pop-up exhibit, co-hosted by the Church of Scientology National Affairs Office, United for Human Rights, Youth for Human Rights International's DC chapter, and Art Impact International, featured five artists whose works centered on the theme of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The show included a large portrait of Martin Luther King Jr., alongside abstracts, assemblage art, and wax on glass creations. Artists Roslyn Cambridge, Carolyn Goodridge, Sante Johnson, Patrick Smith, and J. Thomas Wells were present to discuss their work and the human and civil rights themes that inspired them.
Mr. Azhar Haq, Executive Director of Youth for Human Rights International's DC chapter, underscored the importance of art in human rights advocacy: "Art speaks where words can't fully communicate the same concepts. Art brings people of all different beliefs and cultures together to appreciate something beautiful." The event also offered free educational materials on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, courtesy of Youth for Human Rights International, whose mission is to disseminate and promote human rights education globally. These materials are available at www.youthforhumanrights.org, and more information about the DC chapter can be found at https://www.facebook.com/YHRDC.
Art Walk Dupont is a recurring cultural experience that brings free art exhibits to galleries, embassies, and cultural centers throughout the historic Dupont Circle neighborhood, providing a platform for artists and advocates to engage the public on important issues. United for Human Rights (UHR) is an international nonprofit dedicated to implementing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at all levels of society. Youth for Human Rights International (YHRI), founded in 2001, works to educate young people about human rights to foster tolerance and peace. The award to Smith underscores the ongoing collaboration between these organizations and the local art community to advance human rights awareness through creative expression.
