KIDZ! Melting Time Together

Wichita, Kansas | March 16, 2026

By Julian Azcary Montes | Planeta Venus

KIDZ! at Harvester Arts in downtown Wichita brings together Serena Salerno and fellow artists in an exhibition that reflects on childhood creativity, memory, and the parts of ourselves that remain unchanged into adulthood, on view through March 27. Pictures by Julian Azcary Montes.

What would it look like for us to pause, look at the details of our childhood, and ask ourselves what has changed? What has stayed the same? Can we look at the world with the same wonder and joy that we had as children?

Serena Salerno, organizer of Kidz, the exhibition at Harvest Arts - Picture by Julian Azcary Montes

Serena Salerno, also known as Juju, grew up in a family immersed in the arts. With her father, a sculptor, providing a strong foundation, Serena was surrounded by art in many forms, but took a particular interest in murals and graffiti culture, which have shaped her raw, expressive work. Her childhood was filled with sketching, sculpting, and painting, which have followed her into her adult life. That is the cornerstone of her current exhibition — KIDZ! — currently on view at Harvester Arts in downtown Wichita.

KIDZ! was organized by Serena and includes her work alongside Gino Salerno, Marsha Salerno, Marco Salerno, Martina Sanchez, and Abi Herrera. As the show's description puts it, the exhibition suggests that people don't fully transform as they grow up — we remain versions of who we were as kids.

"This show is about how childhood makes you who you are today. It's kind of melting time together," Serena said.

The exhibition centers around a painting called "Rena's World" — Serena's self-portrait in her childhood bedroom. Adorned with her own sketches, books, and a lone sock on the floor, the piece encapsulates the humble beginnings of the talented artist Serena would grow into.

"Rena's World" — Serena's self-portrait in her childhood bedroom. Picture by Julian Azcary Montes

Serena spoke to the meaning of the sun in the painting: "My mom and my sister painted that for me because I was afraid of the dark. They just wanted to have some sunlight in my room. So that's why I have that in there… It's like, oh, the light is shining on me. Like I'm a happy little kid, you know?"

Another piece of note is a toy-adorned sculpture by Gino Salerno — one of a series he has made, each with different objects screwed onto the figure. This particular sculpture followed Serena into her living room when she moved out. To her, it captures something about motherhood.

Picture by Julian Azcary Montes

Picture by Julian Azcary Montes

Picture by Julian Azcary Montes

"She's a woman, and she has all these toys attached to her. She has her hands on her hips, and she's like, 'What are you guys doing?' They're just playing with toys, you know?"

KIDZ! is a strong reminder of what the arts can do in childhood — and how that can follow us into adulthood. For Serena, having been raised so connected to art meant she could be curious and explore her creativity alongside her family. From her family drawing together, she developed her own sense of wonder and her voice as an artist.

"I just want people to remember what it was like to be a kid — that curiosity and childhood wonder. A lot of people forget that as adults. I want to bring it back."

KIDZ! is on view at Harvester Arts, 120 E. First St. N., Wichita, through Friday, March 27. Gallery hours: Monday–Friday 3–6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Prints and originals are available for purchase.