Congressional Art Competition

Congratulations to the first-place winner of the 2021 2nd District Congressional Art Competition, Marquette junior Driptaa Chakraborty!

Each spring, Members of the United States House of Representatives sponsor the Congressional Art Competition. This competition is an opportunity to recognize the artistic talent of students in Missouri’s 2nd District and throughout the nation. 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.

38 talented high school artists from across the 2nd Congressional District entered the 2021 competition which was judged by three local professional artists. Thank you to the participants, their art teachers, and their families! All the impressive 2021 submissions from the 2nd District can be viewed here.

Driptaa’s compelling drawing, Innovation will be exhibited in the U.S. Capitol for the next year and she will receive two airline tickets to attend the Washington, D.C. reception for winners from across the country.

Danielle Zhang received 2nd Place for her ink drawing Ad Astra. Danielle is a junior at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. Visitors to my Washington, D.C. office will soon be able to view Danielle’s artwork. 3rd Place went to Eureka senior Monica May for her colored pencil drawing titled Past, Present, Future. Monica’s colorful work will hang in my district office for the next year.

The judges also awarded honorable mentions to Caawthar Moftin, a senior from Hancock High School; Adrian Baxter, a senior from Parkway South; Caylee Braun, a senior from Fort Zumwalt North High School; and Berlynn Hamilton, a junior from Francis Howell High School.

The 2nd Congressional District Art Competition is open to all high school students in the district. Contact Jaci Winship at MO02Wagner.ArtCompetition@mail.house.gov or 636-779-5449 for additional information.

Entries must be two-dimensional and can be no larger than 26 inches by 26 inches by 4 inches deep including the frame.  Framed artwork cannot weigh more than 15 pounds.  Framing is optional for the district competition; however, the winning piece must be framed according to the competition standards before it is shipped to the Capitol. 

Artwork accepted mediums are:

 •Paintings - including oil, acrylics, and watercolor

 •Drawings - including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers (It is recommended that charcoal and pastels be fixed.)

 •Collage (must be two-dimensional)

 •Prints - including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints

 •Mixed Media

 •Computer Generated Art

 •Photography

 All entries must be original in concept, design and execution.  Exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature are not allowed.