Capital District Times

Local winner to be invited to exclusive U.S. Capitol art reception, artwork to be displayed in U.S. Capitol this fall

SCHENECTADY, NY — Congressman Paul D. Tonko held a reception last week at the Mandeville Gallery in the Nott Memorial at Union College to announce the winners of the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for New York’s 20th congressional district. The winning artworks were chosen from among 28 student submissions representing 12 high schools across the 20th congressional district.

“I am always proud to recognize the participants in our Congressional Art Competition, and this year was no exception,” Congressman Tonko said. “Last Friday, I was thrilled to be able to join some of these students in person to celebrate their artistic brilliance and their impressive dedication to their work. Creative expression through the arts is a critical part of the learning process, allowing students to push the boundaries of their imaginations and put their individual perspectives on display. I am honored to recognize this year’s talented competitors, and I thank each and every parent, teacher, and supporter who has helped them along the way.”

·         Best in Show — Anabelle Vasquez, Shaker High School, “Serenity”

·         Runner-Up — Aidan Hartmann, Clayton A. Bouton High School, “Angel Hair”

·         Honorable Mention — Kimaya Oke, Shenendehowa High School, “Portrait of Father”

·         Honorable Mention — Casey Gao, Shenendehowa High School, “There’s Always a Bigger Fish”

·         Honorable Mention — Chaeyeon “Lucy” Lee, Shaker High School, “Inherent Misfortunes”

“Congratulations to Anabelle, the first repeat winner in the history of this competition in our district, for her exceptional work,” Tonko continued, “and congratulations to all of our Capital Region students who participated this year. Your creativity is truly an inspiration to all of us.”

This year’s honorees were chosen by a distinguished panel of judges from Union College and the Arts Center of the Capital Region. The winner will be honored at a reception in Washington D.C. this fall, and their artwork will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol for the remainder of the year.

The annual Congressional Art Competition celebrates the artistic achievements of the nation’s high school students. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 670,000 high school students have participated. 

Original source can be found here.