Congressional Art Competition
Congratulations to the first-place winner of the 2026 2nd District Congressional Art Competition, Webster Groves Junior Anna Bass!
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.
26 talented high school artists from across the 2nd Congressional District entered the 2026 competition which was judged by three local professional artists. Thank you to the participants, their art teachers, and their families! All the impressive 2026 submissions from the 2nd District can be viewed here.
Anna’s impressive oil painting, Ozarks After Storm will be exhibited in the U.S. Capitol for the next year, and she will be offered two airline tickets to attend the Washington, D.C. reception for winners from across the country.
The judges awarded Best Photo to Caroline Brauer, a freshman from MICDS for Dust in the Wind. Her photograph will hang in my Washington, D.C. office over the next year.
Bruce Elvin, a sophomore from MICDS received 2nd Place for his colored pencil drawing, Oh, The Places You’ll Go. Visitors to my Washington, D.C. office will soon be able to view this detailed drawing.
3rd Place went to Lafayette senior, Mahitha Donepudi for her colored pencil and marker drawing titled Madrid. Mahitha’s drawing will hang in my Ballwin district office for the next year.
The 2nd Congressional District Art Competition is open to all high school students in the district. Contact 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.