Gahanna teenager accepted into Harvard, has artwork chosen for national Walmart project

It’s been a good year for 18 year old Gabby Anderson.

The former Gahanna resident and Gahanna Lincoln Student—who now lives in Bradenton, Florida and attends the world-renowned sports preparatory school IMG Academy—has fulfilled two lifelong goals: Securing her spot at Harvard University and getting her artwork on one of the biggest National stages possible.

Anderson will play basketball for Harvard University this fall. 

“It’s difficult to even put into words what it means to me,” Anderson said. “It’s been a dream of mine for such a long time.”

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More recently, the longtime student-athlete had her artwork selected to be featured in more than 1,500 Walmart stores across the country as part of the company’s Juneteenth initiative.

Anderson, who has created art most of her life and even started a shoe customization business of her own at the age of 16, created paintings using portrait photos of multiple different Black beauty brand entrepreneurs. These were then displayed on Walmart aisle end-caps—along with a photo of and information about Gabby—in more than 1,500 stores across the country as part of the retailer’s desire to feature young Black artists during Juneteenth.

“You get really, really excited, but then the whole mom instinct sets in and you realize your kid’s face is going to be in 1,500 Walmarts across the nation,” Gabby’s mom Celia Anderson said with a laugh.

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