Press Releases

Today, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson welcomed Second Congressional District Art Competition winner, Cedric Davis and his mom Lisa Kemp of Greenville, Mississippi to the Nation’s Capitol for the Annual Congressional Art Competition.

Each spring, Members of the United States House of Representatives sponsor district art competitions to determine who will represent their states in the Congressional Art Competition.  

Cedric, along with hundreds of other high school students from the United States earned the opportunity to have their artwork grace the halls of the United States Capitol for one year.

When asked what inspired his portrait of Laren’s Blue Eyes, Cedric offered the following explanation:

“The inspiration for my portrait came from discovering an African American baby with blue eyes on the internet. Through research I learned that his name was Laren Galloway and his parents were a part of the Hurricane Katrina catastrophe. I was amazed when I read his story and created the portrait in his honor.”

Davis’ mother, Lisa Kemp offered the following regarding her son’s achievement, “When Cedric was three years old, I knew he was destined to be a great artist, joining him here
today has been one of my proudest moments thus far. I am proud of this achievements and I know his best is yet to come.”

Thompson offered the following remarks in reference to Cedric’s achievements, “I may be a little bias, but the attention Cedric has paid to detail in this portrait, sets his work apart from
any of the artwork that hang in the halls of the Capitol.”