08/18/2026
Our Teen Zine Exhibition is up through Sep 4th! Held in conjunction with our 4th annual ZineFest, the exhibition features work created by high school students participating in zine programs throughout WNY, including CEPA GALLERY Squeaky Wheel BICA BICA School, and teens involved in a Youth Talk Back led by University at Buffalo’s Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Program led by Sadie Dempsey and Micaela Lipman.
With their gatekeeperless, unfiltered, defiant, playful, and welcoming nature — zines are an ideal artform for teen artists. At a time when teen voices can be stifled or dismissed, zines are a loudspeaker, amplifying their experiences, feelings, and perspectives. And at a time when young artists are vulnerable to the false narrative that to be a “real” artist is to be granted permission, zines remind them that they can share their art and ideas right now; that they’ve already “emerged” the moment they hit “copy.”
Teen arts/civic programs like these in Buffalo understand the potential of zines to empower young people. And their encouraging program leaders do the important work of simply taking teens seriously and trusting them to tell their own stories.
“Zines are…very accessible and there’s no pressure or expectations with making them. Zines have no limits as an art form and that’s gotten me obsessed with them. I use them a lot for activism and putting my voice and others into the world which is something that’s so important for teens to do!” - Michael DeLaPlante - teen ZineFest vendor whose work is featured in the exhibition
All are welcome to attend a community event - Youth Talk Back: Visions for Local Democracy - led by Micaela Lipman and Sadie Dempsey of UB’s Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Program on Weds, Aug 19th from 4-6pm.
This interactive event invites you to see the exhibit, listen to the dreams of young people for this city, celebrate the leadership of Buffalo’s youth, and gather in community with other youth empowerment workers.
