By Bela Patel, Arts Editor |

Walking down the cafeteria hallway, you may have noticed the beautiful oyster paintings decorating the walls. With their layered textures, rich colors, and intricate details, the works immediately stand out and transform the hallway into a gallery. I interviewed Josie Go ‘27 about her artistic journey, the inspiration behind her project, and how she uses art to advocate for environmental conservation. 

What is your journey with art? 

I first discovered my love for art at a young age, painting alongside my mom and attending summer art camps. In middle and high school, I started taking formal art classes and found my favorite subject: oysters. Their intricacy and detail make them fascinating to paint, but I also use my work to spotlight oysters—a species deeply threatened by overfishing and habitat loss.

What was your inspiration for DWJG? 

I started Dirty Water JG, inspired by the song “Dirty Water” by the Standells, which celebrates Boston pride. That sense of local pride made me reflect on the pride we should feel for oysters—the natural filters that clean our waters and support our ecosystem. Through my art, I hope to educate and inspire others about oysters’ importance and the need to protect their habitats. All proceeds go to the Massachusetts Oyster Project, an organization that supports oyster restoration and conservation efforts in MA. This organization’s efforts have contributed immensely to mitigating climate change and environmental challenges.

How has Winsor supported you with your Oyster Series? 

Winsor’s art teachers have been instrumental in my art. Ms. Davenport encouraged me when I first wanted to try oysters and brought in shells to further my exploration. Additionally, Ms. Macaulay has guided me throughout my AP Portfolio on this subject; she especially encouraged me to try different media and color palettes. Winsor has also given me the space to showcase my pieces to help the community see my art and the environmental significance behind it.

What’s next? 

I am working on developing a couple more products, including a hat and prints. I have also been working with the Massachusetts Oyster Project to plan to sell my products at their events! Lastly, I’m visiting a couple of oyster farms in the coming months to better understand an oyster’s lifecycle and industries around this mollusk. In terms of what’s next for my art, in my senior year, I am aiming to focus on highlighting an oyster’s life. This year, I spent so much time emphasizing the intricacies of oysters, and now I want to capture how humans interact with oysters and what an oyster looks like from a broader lens.

Responses edited for brevity and clarity.

Josie Go, Spread, 2026, oil on canvas, 6’ x 3’