Downtown Nampa buildings have a new look thanks to about 20 Idaho Arts Charter School students.

The teenagers hung 160 black-and-white face portraits on downtown buildings to raise awareness of self-empowerment through self-expression. The portraits are of the students, teachers and Nampa residents.

The photos are part of the Inside Out project, a worldwide group-action art project led by French Street artist “JR”.

“The goal of the project is to turn the world inside out — the photos show expression on what is on the inside,” said Jared Austin an art teacher at Idaho Arts Charter School. “It’s to be intimate when you view the photo of the face.”

Taking photos is Courtny Hauge’s passion because it’s a way for her to show expression and individuality.

“I believe art is about emotion and now people in the community can experience it,” she said. “This project gets people not judge you by your looks and shows people who you really are.”

The photos were taken by local artists ​Lawrence Manning ​and ​Betty Mallorca from Hill Street Studios/Track13, who donated their time. The students raised more than $1,000 to pay for the materials.

“We have had an outpouring of support from the community to make this project happen,” Austin said.