Lyla Petroske ’26 hosted her first solo exhibition on June 7 at Studio 268 in Setauket, NY. The show featured a range of her pastel and oil landscape paintings, inspired by both her travels and the natural beauty of Long Island. “Most of the framed work was landscape,” she explained. “But I also had some looser, figure-based sketches on display as well.” Some pieces were inspired by a school trip to Europe two years ago, while many others captured local scenes from around the island.
Lyla sold nearly all of her displayed work, raising nearly $6,000 in support of Long Island Cares, a nonprofit organization that helps combat food insecurity across Long Island.
A passionate and dedicated art student, Lyla recently completed AP Art 2 and will be continuing her creative journey next year through an Independent Art Study. This advanced offering provides students with the freedom to pursue their personal artistic vision under the guidance of faculty mentorship. “I’m excited to work on larger pieces without the typical portfolio constraints,” she said. “There’s a lot of artistic freedom, and I’ll be working closely with Mrs. [Anna] MacDonald.”
Lyla has studied at Studio 268 for over a decade under the guidance of local artist Mary Jane van Zeijts (parent of Pieter van Zeijts ‘18), who offered her the space for the month-long exhibit. “She’s been like a second mom to me,” Lyla shared. “I was basically raised in the studio.”
Thanks to Lyla’s initiative and heart for service, the exhibit became more than a display of talent—it became a meaningful way to help local families in need. All net proceeds from the show are being donated to Long Island Cares, and additional pieces will remain on display for purchase through the end of June.
Her remarkable combination of creativity, compassion, and leadership embodies the mission of The Stony Brook School: to prepare students to lead lives of character and purpose.