CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A nonprofit street gallery is working hard at helping local artists get more local eyes on their hard work.

Tina Vincent loves to show off her students’ various works of art.

“Collage is another technique that I absolutely love. And the kids did an amazing job with their collages,” Vincent said. She’s been teaching fine arts at East Mecklenburg High School over the last few years.

What You Need To Know

  • Tina Vincent teaches fine arts at East Mecklenburg High School

  • Her job allows her to continue to create using different art mediums

  • Her sculpture work was chosen this year for the 'Art Pop Street Gallery' around Charlotte

  • Vincent is one of 20 artists chosen for the project

Vincent grew up in Zimbabwe, where she says people focused more on getting degrees in medicine or business, as opposed to fine arts.

Still, she says her love for the arts kept her in the classroom — even into adulthood.

“I think it’s so important to evolve,” Vincent said. “It’s nice for my students to see me try something new and not really be that great at it and then come back and see me still working at it."

An evolution of teaching in the classroom led Vincent to her newest medium: sculptures.

“I had to teach a sculpture class,” Vincent said. “I had no experience with sculptures at all. So I started making them, and at first they started off as old ladies because that way if things were not really sitting the way they needed to, it just kind of worked. And then as they become younger, making things a little bit more firm required a little bit more skill.”

Skills that Vincent built up and, when she finally got the hang of it, eventually gained the attention of Art Pop Street Gallery. The program is based in Charlotte and chose Vincent as one of 20 artists to feature their work on billboards and advertisements around the city this year.

Vincent said she’s overjoyed at the opportunity to get local eyes on her local work.

“I just never could have dreamed of having my work on display like that,” Vincent said.“I just never could have dreamed of having my work on display like that,” Vincent said.

The goal of the program is to help local artists gain exposure to earn a sustainable living.

In the last year, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools says they have cut art programs by 10% across the board.

While Vincent says she has yet to feel the cuts at her school, she hopes her exposure through Art Pop Street Gallery will help inspire her students to pursue their own artistic passions. She’s also hoping they’ll have the chance to make a living along the way.

“Why should we wait until they’re like 25 and doing something big to really encourage them?” Vincent said. “We need to start while they’re younger. I definitely feel like Art Pop is really helping us to achieve that.”

You can check out the Art Pop Street Program throughout the city of Charlotte on billboards, digital displays and some bus stops around the city.