Annabelle Janssens, University of Maryland
As a native New Yorker, Annabelle Janssens has been surrounded by and exposed to art her entire life. She attended The Hewitt School and graduated with honors from The Dwight-Englewood School. She is currently finishing her freshman year at the University of Maryland where she is studying Broadcast Journalism and Art History.
Annabelle’s love of art started in nursery school. Unbeknownst to her, what began as weekly art classes at the MET became the foundation for Annabelle’s interest in the subject. She was lucky enough to live a few blocks from so many of the city’s wonderful museums that she was able to run through a show at any time, often tagging along with her mother for special openings and exhibit tours. During high school, she excelled in her AP Art History course which opened the door to her passion. She also had the pleasure of working with children at her school, tutoring them in Art and Spanish and was able to share her excitement with them. Annabelle graduated from high school with academic honors, hoping to expand her knowledge of Art History in the future.
The summer before college was truly eye-opening. After a trip to Venice where she experienced the biennale, Annabelle fell in love with art. She immediately enrolled in the Sotheby’s Institute of Art’s Summer Study program, where she took classes focusing on contemporary art in New York City. Through this, she had the opportunity to discover so many hidden gems where she grew up. The class consisted of gallery and studio visits, as well as lectures from experienced art curators, gallerists and the artists themselves. The access she had was unparalleled, and she was able to share this with an international group of students which enriched the experience.
At the University of Maryland, Annabelle is in the Philip Merrill School of Journalism with a minor in Art History. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and is involved in Greek life. She can frequently be seen on the Left Bench TV broadcasting school wide sports. This past year she has taken Art and Society in the West from the Renaissance to the Present, and 17th Century European Art. She recently spent time in Paris exploring the art scene there and will travel to Florence in May to do the same.
Annabelle will continue her studies in Art History throughout college, has plans to study abroad junior year and is excited to explore future career possibilities in the art world.