May 29, 2025, marked the quiet yet eagerly awaited arrival of the annual Art Show at The International Montessori School of Beijing (MSB). Months of creativity and preparation culminated in this inspiring celebration, a beloved tradition among students, parents, and faculty alike. The playground was transformed into an open-air gallery, where artworks from all students reached far beyond mere exhibition—they were poetic expressions of blossoming inner worlds. Alongside individual pieces, collaborative artworks created by each grade level were featured in a charity auction. All proceeds were donated to support Xiao He, a child battling leukemia. These student artworks, rich with creativity and compassion, helped raise the courage and resources needed for his recovery—reminding us that healing takes a village.

Guided by the Montessori philosophy, MSB’s EC2 teacher Nisha has created a classroom where art is a space of free exploration. Among her students is four-and-a-half-year-old Jennifer Feng, who has shown remarkable talent in this nurturing environment that honors every child’s natural rhythm of development. Her painting, The Little Prince’s Rainbow Dream, vividly reflects the Montessori concept of the “Absorbent Mind.” With pure perception and vivid imagination, she uses lines and colors to express herself freely and fearlessly. This work, which won a gold award at the Third International Art Co-Creation Exhibition and was displayed at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, not only speaks to her artistic gift, but also serves as a powerful testament to the Montessori belief in “following the child.”

Elsewhere on the green lawn of campus, a vibrant jungle scene stood tall — a collective piece from Chin’s EC class. Bursting with colorful flowers and lively birds flitting among the trees, the artwork pays tribute to nature’s harmony and the children’s unbridled imagination. Nearby, Nisha’s EC class presented a whimsical “Hotpot Feast.” Brimming with delightful ingredients such as tender meats, fresh greens, and savory meatballs, the painting evokes warmth, joy, and the simple pleasures of life. With their brushes, the children captured not only their love for delicious food but also their zest for everyday experiences, filling the scene with childlike wonder and a sense of cozy celebration.

Moving into the Elementary and Middle School exhibition, surrealist paintings caught the eye—clocks with twisted hands and warped faces disrupt traditional concepts of time and space. These pieces are powerful reflections of students' internal worlds, shaped by their absorbent minds and boundless creativity. Their bold use of colors—deep blues, ochres, and browns—create a dreamlike, almost uncanny atmosphere that aligns with Montessori’s observations of children in their sensitive periods. During the sensitive period for color, children demonstrate heightened sensitivity and a strong drive for color expression, using art to explore emotions and the unknown. Blurred backgrounds hint at a deeper world, illustrating how, in the spirit of Montessori education, children construct their self-identity and worldview through independent creative work.

On the day of the Art Show, soft music flowed across the MSB playground like a gentle stream, filling every corner with a sense of calm and joy. Carefully prepared snacks and drinks added a touch of indulgence to this artistic gathering. But more than light and color filled the space. There was pride sparkling in parents’ eyes, warm nods exchanged between teachers and students, and the excitement of children tugging at sleeves to share their stories. When applause rises in response to heartfelt expression, and smiles grow from understanding and appreciation, we witness the true spirit of education quietly blooming in moments of shared joy and connection.

One of the most moving moments came during the student artwork auction. Parents gathered eagerly around paintings infused with innocence and imagination, their eyes filled with admiration and delight. Every bid was a gesture of affirmation and love—recognition of a child’s creativity, and support for a worthy cause. As bids climbed higher, friendly competition emerged, driven by both passion for art and dedication to charity. In total, the auction raised ¥39,300. This generosity reflected not only appreciation for art, but also the compassion that binds our community together. In the gentle music and the aroma of delicious food, the warmth of home and school partnership could be felt in every corner of the celebration.

“What we do to the child, we do to the future—not just momentarily, but for a lifetime.”
— Maria Montessori

When we observe this art show through a Montessori lens—reading the hidden clues of sensitive periods in each painting, listening to the growth unfolding in mixed-age collaboration, feeling the empathy stirred by acts of charity—education becomes what it was always meant to be:
A tree shaking another tree, a cloud pushing another cloud, a soul awakening another soul.