Congressional Art Competition

Each year, Members of Congress hold contests within their districts to choose winning pieces of art by high school students to be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC. This impressive art exhibit brightens the Cannon Tunnel and showcases the talent of our nation’s young people.

If you are interested in participating in this competition, please contact my office in Lexington for more information, including the guidelines for the competition.

General Guidelines

• The competition is open to high school students only. Exceptions will be made for schools that have 7th through 12th grades in one building. Each Member office can choose whether or not to include 7th and 8th grades in the art show if there are schools in their district that fit these criteria.

• Artwork categories are as follows:
  • Collage: must be two-dimensional
  • Computer Generated Art
  • Drawings: pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, markers
  • Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, etc.
  • Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
  • Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints

Student Release Form

A copy of the Student Release Form, signed by both the teacher and the student, must be attached to the artwork to certify the originality of the piece: Student Information/Release Form

 2008 Congressional Art Competition Winners

Overall Winner – Kyle Keener, Henry Clay High School “A. Icehouses”
Overall 1st Runner up – Anna Cobb, Scott County High School “Self Portrait”
Overall 2nd Runner up –Katherine Kellum, Henry Clay High School “Reflection of the Old in the New”

County Winners:

• Estill: Marla Marrs, Estill County High School “Untitled”
• Fayette: Daniel Moonan, Lafayette High School “Contemplation”
• Franklin: Barbara Gooding, Western Hills High School “Flower & Glass”
• Garrard: Courtney Rhodes, Garrard County High School “Gypsy Grace”
• Jessamine: Samantha Keeling, West Jessamine High School “Soul to the Window”
• Madison: Katlyn Brumfield, Madison Central High School “Lions”
• Powell: Tenny Ostrem, Powell County High School “Iceskates”
• Scott: Danielle Lee, Scott County High School “Monochromatic Vampire”
• Woodford: Amanda Couch, Woodford County High School “Color of Darkness”

Category Winners:

• Collage: Skylar Davis, Garrard County High School “Lies of Perfection”
• Computer Generated Art: Marla Marrs, Estill County High School “Untitled”
• Drawing: Tenny Ostrem, Powell County High School “Drawing Yourself”
• Mixed Media: Nicole Abress Gooding, Western Hills High School “Memories of a Life”
• Painting: Anna Cobb, Scott County High School “Self Portrait”
• Photography: Jessey Morris, Powell County High School “Charmed Life”
• Print: Deborah Hickman, Lafayette High School “The Growers”

Congressman Chandler with overall winner of the 2008 Congressional Art Competition, Kyle Keener, Henry Clay High School in Lexington