First Lady Jill Biden Unveils New White House Art Display Featuring the Works of Military Children (Exclusive)

'The Military Children’s Corner,' opening Tuesday, features hand-picked art by 11 children and teens with family ties to the military

A new, year-round art display designed and curated by first lady Jill Biden is shining light on America's military children, some of whom will now see their drawings and paintings featured in the White House.

The Military Children’s Corner, which opens to the public Tuesday, features the work of 11 military-connected children — ranging in age from 8 to 19 — all of whom are based at military outposts that Dr. Biden, 72, has personally engaged or visited during her time as first lady.

One of the young artists, Taylor Trudell, even got to meet Dr. Biden, along with Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, during the first lady's travels. Her art will be among the first things White House visitors see when they enter the East Wing.

Trudell, 19, attended Knob Noster High School in Missouri when she met the first lady. Now at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, she tells PEOPLE she was "astonished" to learn that one of her paintings was among those selected for the display.

"I could not believe that my favorite and longest hobby has achieved national acclaim," she says. "During my conversation with Dr. Biden in April 2022, we both agreed on the importance of art in education, and her passion for students and their creations was more than apparent. She resonated with my vision for art and my belief that the visual arts provide an invaluable space, especially to the military community and their families."

A watercolor piece created by Trudell depicts a house in her hometown of Knob Noster, Missouri, and required "many hours over two months and a whole bottle of drawing gum," she says, to capture "the essence of dappled sunlight through leaves turning in the fall."

"Painting a scene like this reframes what you think about something many take for granted," Trudell tells PEOPLE. "The exterior of a house in town is seen hundreds of times a day, but it is considered mundane. This is a beautiful subject, on a pristine autumn day; I want to be able to feel like I am back on that sidewalk with the slight breeze, the crunching of the leaves under my feet, and the sun on my skin."

Related: Dr. Jill Biden Speaks Out About the Challenges Facing Military Families: 'We Will Care For Them'

Located in the East Colonnade, the display will be one of the first things those going on public tours of the White House see in its East Wing. The art will help teach White House visitors about the 4 million military-connected children whose parents are active-duty service members, National Guard or reservists, or veterans.

The exhibit — part of Dr. Biden's Joining Forces initiative, which supports military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors — also features artwork from Sesame Street’s Rosita, whose character is the daughter of a wounded veteran.

Related: First Lady Jill Biden Makes Unscheduled 'Thank You' Visit to National Guard After Clinic Tour

Supporting military families has been a focus of Dr. Biden's time in the White House. She knows firsthand what it's like to part of a military family: The president's late son, Beau, served in the Delaware Army National Guard, deploying to Iraq in 2008. (He died from brain cancer at age 46 in 2015.)

In a statement about the new display, Dr. Biden touched on how "inspired" she has been by the military children she's met both at home and abroad.

"They may not wear a uniform, but they serve our country, too. During my travels, military children have frequently shared their artwork with me, offering a window into their lives,” Dr. Biden said. “Inspired by their stories of kindness, ingenuity, and strength, I wanted to bring their art and talents to the White House. As visitors enjoy The Military Children’s Corner, I hope they also take a moment to reflect on the service and sacrifice of our military families.”

Related: Jill Biden Reflects on Military Children & Importance of Their Education: 'We Can Give Them a Community'

Speaking to PEOPLE, Trudell says she hopes that the works in the display will show Americans "that there is so much more to military children than just their military affiliation."

"While we all share a common thread, we all have passions, skills, and goals for ourselves that are sometimes sidelined due to our parents’ enlistment," Trudell says. "The extra struggles that military families face due to their lack of common support systems are often overlooked. That is one reason why the visual arts hold such a fond place in my heart; it is a medium of expression that transcends language, time, money and country."

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