Class of 2026 Fairview graduate creates artwork worth a closer look

For most students, advanced engineering coursework and detailed visual art occupy opposite sides of the academic spectrum. For Fairview High School Class of 2026 graduate Isabella Varga, they complement one another.

Varga’s undeniable talent in the arts was on display at the school’s Creative Arts and Design Showcase in May. Like many artists, she tells a story through her artwork, often drawing inspiration from personal interests like music, specifically classic rock.

Her love for painting and the arts started long before Fairview High School, going back to her time as an elementary student at Gilles-Sweet.

“I love art, I always do it at home,” she said. “Every time I have free time, I’m in my craft room painting, drawing, or any kind of art. It’s my number one hobby, pretty much.”

Due to a busy and rigorous academic schedule, Varga did not have the opportunity to enroll in an art class at Fairview until her junior year, when she took Introduction to Drawing and Painting. 

“Every individual piece exhibited her meticulous attention to detail and unhurried discipline, which is a rare trait at this level.”

This past school year, she was enrolled in the Accelerated Drawing and Painting class, both taught by Ryan Graff.

“Taking the classes here, I got to learn different styles and do different things than I normally do,” she expressed. “Last year, we did an impressionist painting, and I’ve never done that style before. We did a lot of line work and different projects that I probably wouldn’t have tried on my own.”

“When Isabella took her first art class at FHS her junior year, there was no mistaking that she is a very perceptive person,” Graff said. “She has a remarkable ability to observe her surroundings and then translate it in an aesthetically pleasing manner.”

Varga's portfolio of artwork at the Creative Arts & Design Showcase blended painting, collage, and mixed-media techniques, incorporating vintage records, sheet music, and magazine clippings. 

Her work is influenced by music and popular culture, with many pieces encouraging closer examination. A defining characteristic of Varga's artwork is its attention to detail, from subtle textures and backgrounds to thoughtfully incorporated imagery and pop-culture symbolism.

One piece depicts what appears to be a record store, filled with albums, instruments, and music memorabilia.

The painting is packed with incredible details, including recognizable references to artists and albums such as The Beatles’ “Abbey Road” and “Help!,” Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumours,” Pink Floyd’s “The Dark Side of the Moon,” Nirvana’s “Nevermind,” Pearl Jam’s “Ten,” Billy Joel’s “The Stranger,” and plenty more recognizable albums. Every corner of the page is filled with something that any music lover would easily recognize and love.

Another piece of artwork features the Fab Four themselves, walking in a crosswalk from their iconic “Abbey Road” album cover. However, in this rendition, Varga repurposed an old vinyl record as the canvas for the piece. The painting features not only the lads from Liverpool, but the iconic track list and Apple as they appeared on the original album.

“[The Beatles are] one of my Dad’s favorite bands, too,” Varga explained. “He gave me all of my musical tastes. Everything that I listen to is from him, pretty much. The Beatles were one of the first bands that we listened to together. We both share a love for the Beatles.”

One painting depicts a cottage nestled within a lush landscape of waterfalls, gardens, and winding pathways. Rich with small details and textures, the piece creates a sense of place, blending elements of fantasy with realistic architectural and natural features.

“I was in awe of her portfolio from the introductory and intermediate classes,” Graff noted. “Every individual piece exhibited her meticulous attention to detail and unhurried discipline, which is a rare trait at this level.”

The precise nature of the work is a testament to the discipline that Varga has as an artist. That same discipline also helped Varga excel in many other subjects at Fairview this spring, including AP Calculus AB, AP World History, AP French, AP Literature, and AP Computer Science. 

“Isabella is such a well-rounded and versatile person,” Graff said. “She would always give back in so many ways, whether it was providing uplifting feedback to others, sharing new ideas, or carving out time in her busy schedule to assist as a finish line timer at track meets.”

“I use art as an escape from all the schoolwork and stuff,” she explained. “I like focusing on the tiny, little details and then getting all of them done…it’s nice to just be by myself, sit there, and just paint what I want.”

At commencement, she was recognized with Summa Cum Laude honors and an Honors Diploma. She is also a graduate of the four-year Polaris Satellite Engineering program at FHS. She is attending Ohio State University to study civil engineering this fall - something much different than the world of painting.

“I think there is more freedom with dealing with the challenges from art,” Varga explained. “With art, you can try different things with it, and there is no wrong answer with what you make. Even if it’s not 100% how you wanted it to turn out, you can still learn a lot from the mistakes in art.”