Visual Arts

Our Visual Arts department is where our students formally train in stylistic art forms, but visual arts are incorporated into every classroom, at every grade level.  Our Early Childhood students, from Transitional Kindergarten through grade 2,  all take classes in music.  Through these classes, they explore vocal and instrumental music, music history, music theory, ear and rhythmic training, and styles of music.  By the time CBA students begin our Intermediate School program in grade 7, they are ready to make informed decisions regarding electives in music.  Students may choose to take music courses for all three classes of their Arts Block or a single one.  

Throughout the year, our visual artists have many opportunities to showcase their talents: at gallery nights, in talent showcases, in the crew for our spring musical, and through projects around our school.  Our students can also partake in artistic opportunities in our region through outside studio partnerships.  Our music teachers can help guide our visual students toward community opportunities for showcase and growth in their field as well.  

Just like the rest of CBA's students, our visual students are prepared for any path they choose to take moving forward beyond CBA.  Our rich course offerings in the Upper School allow them to pursue a collegiate education, either in art or any other area of passion.  However, these same rich course offerings ensure a level of readiness for a professional career in music coming straight out of high school that is not generally found.  We understand that not all of our students will choose to pursue a collegiate education, and we seek to ensure that our students are prepared for whatever their next step is after graduation.  ​

Visual Arts Department Course Offerings 

  • Early Childhood and Primary School
    • Daily General Art Classes, including set design
    • In-class Art History Projects 
    • In-Class Famous Artists Studies 
  • Intermediate and Upper School
    • Art History
    • Painting
    • Sketch 
    • Pottery
    • Photography
    • Architecture 
    • Anatomical Sketch
    • Set Design
    • Graphic Design
    • Animation ​

Ms. Kayla Heikkinen : Dean of the Arts
​Director of the Visual Arts Department

[email protected]
Kay Heikkinen is both the director of the visual arts department and the Dean of the Arts here at CBA.  A Native American multidisciplinary artist and experienced educator based in the Hudson Valley, Ms. H is renowned for her dynamic skills in painting, sculpture, and film in addition to her enormous achievements in the classroom through her instruction and the endeavors of her students. As a teacher, painter, sculptor, and filmmaker, she divides her time between her own practice and fostering the learning of others. A Sagittarius by birth, she possesses an adventurous and expansive spirit, continually exploring new dimensions in her work. Heikkinen’s academic journey began with a focus on ceramics and art education during her undergraduate studies at SUNY New Paltz, which laid a strong foundation for her artistic development. Her pursuit of an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts with a concentration in film further enriched her understanding of visual storytelling, allowing her to seamlessly blend multiple mediums in her creations.  Currently, Ms. H's artistic focus is on painting, where she deeply references art history to infuse her works with a sense of continuity and reverence for the past. Her paintings are known for their intricate detail and evocative themes, often serving as portals to realms that merge the mundane with the mystical. Outside of her professional life, she shares her home with two cats and a dog, whose playful presence adds a touch of warmth and whimsy to her daily routine. Kay Heikkinen continues to inspire her students and audiences alike, cultivating a sense of wonder and curiosity through her ever-evolving artistic journey.  We are so proud to have such an accomplished artist as our Dean, and our students are enormously lucky to have Ms. H in their corner, always cheering them on and modeling the power of respect, hard-work, and generosity of spirit.