Congressional Art Competition
The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, over 650,000 high school students have been involved with the nationwide competition. The Artistic Discovery Contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in the nation, as well as in each Congressional District. The over-all winner of each district will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol.
The first place winner's artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for an entire year. Our district first place winner is provided with complimentary airfare to fly to Washington, D.C. to see his/her art displayed in the Capitol Building during an unveiling ceremony. My office is happy to assist in arranging a variety of tours for the winner and his/her parents, including a meeting with me in my Washington DC office.
First Place Winner: Artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for an entire year.
Second Place Winner: Artwork will be displayed in Rep. Olson's DC office for an entire year.
Third Place Winner: Artwork will be displayed in Rep. Olson's Sugar Land office for an entire year.
Fourth Place Winner: Artwork will be displayed in Rep. Olson's Pearland office for an entire year.
Fifth Place Winner: Artwork will be displayed in Rep. Olson's Katy office for an entire year.
Artwork must be two-dimensional. Artwork must arrive to Rep. Olson's Sugar Land or Pearland office unframed. However, if your artwork is selected as the winning piece, it must arrive framed to the U.S. Capitol measuring no larger than 28" x 28" x 4" (28 inches high, 28 inches wide and 4 inches deep). Framed artwork cannot weigh more than 15 pounds.
Artwork accepted mediums are as follows:
- Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
- Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal.
- Collage: must be two dimensional
- Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints
- Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
- Computer-generated art
- Photography
Artwork will hang in the Capitol for the entire year of the exhibition and cannot be returned to the students earlier. Students should, therefore, submit artwork they will not need for other purposes. Artwork that does not comply with the rules, is submitted after the deadline and is not submitted with the proper forms will not be accepted.
Artwork is due to the Sugar Land or Pearland office by Friday, April 29th. In addition to you artwork, you will need to submit the student release form. Please see the rules and regulations documents before you submit your artwork.
Art Competition Rules for Students and Teachers
Art Competition Submission Checklist
2016 Student Release Form
If you have any questions, please contact Olson's Sugar Land office at (281)-494-2690.
2015 Art Competition Winner: Anton Zhou
The 2015 Congressional High School Art Competition winner was Anton Zhou from Clements High School. His piece, entitled “Taste of Texas," currently hangs in the U.S. Capitol.
"Taste of Texas" by Anton Zhou
Previous Winners:
2014: The 2014 Congressional High School Art Competition winner was Julian Ybarra. He was a senior at Manvel High School. His piece call "Sunny Day Strumming" is an oil painting on canvas, picturing a Texas cowboy strumming a guitar.
2013: The 2013 Congressional High School Art Competition winner was Michelle Huang. She was a tenth grader at Dulles High School in Sugar Land, Texas. Her piece, entitled “Call of the Plains,” is an oil painting on canvas, picturing three cowboys riding horses on the plains.
2012: The 2012 Congressional High School Art Competition winner was Chelsea MacLean. She was a 12th grader at Pasadena Memorial High School in Pasadena, Texas. The title of her entry was “Riding Free.”
2011: The 2011 Congressional High School Art Competition winner was Brittany Seay. She was a senior at Pasadena Memorial High School. The title of her entry was entitled “The Beginning.”