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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Six young artists have been selected as winners in the annual Congressional Art Competition, which is on display in the Balcony Gallery of the Culture Center, State Capitol Complex, in Charleston until April 1. The exhibition is sponsored by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History (WVDACH), in partnership with the West Virginia Congressional Delegation.
On Friday, Feb. 23, WVDACH Museum Director Charles Morris and Deputy Curator Andrea Thompson welcomed guests and introduced Madison Neeley, representing Congressman Alex Mooney, and Elizabeth Crump, representing Congresswoman Carol Miller.
First-place awards were presented to Emily Garrett, Braxton County High School, Braxton County, District 1; and Caleb Roselius, Robert C. Byrd High School, Harrison County, District 2. The first-place winners received a $100 gift certificate from Dick Blick Art Materials, and their work will represent West Virginia in a yearlong Congressional Art Competition exhibition at the United States Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.
An additional two second-place winners and two third-place winners received awards – Addisyn Miller, Nitro High School, Kanawha County, District 1, 2nd place; Taylor Arnett, Robert C. Byrd High School, Harrison County, District 2, 2nd place; Lily Wilson, George Washington High School, Kanawha County, District 1, 3rd place; and Miyako Cole, Robert C. Byrd High School, Harrison County, District 2, 3rd place. Second-place and third-place winners received a $50 gift certificate from Dick Blick Art Materials.
The Congressional Art Exhibition consists of 179 pieces by 151 students, grades 7-12, from 11 West Virginia counties.
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual-art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. The competition is sponsored by members of the United States Congress.
A complete list of students whose work is included in the exhibition is below.
2024 Congressional Youth Art Competition Exhibit (listed by district and county)
DISTRICT 1
BOONE COUNTY
Scott High School
Teacher: Ashleigh Garrett
DeeAndra Avilez-Cruz, Grade 12
In The Ocean Blue, Mixed Media
Gavin Bias, Grade 12
Bandit, Oil Pastel
Johnny Colvin, Grade 10
Daily Changes, Mixed Media
Keira Darnell, Grade 12
Reading Takes You on An Adventure, Mixed Media
Kaitlyn Flippen, Grade 10
Koi, Digital Illustration
Layla Hill, Grade 11
A Deep Connection, Mixed Media
Harley Kirby, Grade 11
Beyond Reality, Mixed Media
Trenton Kirk, Grade 10
Rhododendron After Rain, Photography
Allen Lin, Grade 12
Autumn Glow, Acrylic Paint
Addison Lockard, Grade 10
Misty Woods, Acrylic Paint
Emily Nichols, Grade 12
It’s okay to start things over., Mixed Media
Grace Robinette, Grade 11
The Door, Watercolor
Brenden Stinson, Grade 12
Vibrant Encounter, Oil Pastel
Kaden Underwood, Grade 12
Blue Tang, Oil Pastel
BRAXTON COUNTY
Braxton County High School
Teacher: Shawn Crow
Emily Garrett, Grade 11
Natalie, Colored Pencil
CABELL COUNTY
Huntington High School
Art Teacher: Diana Frazier
Mason Allen, Grade 11
Looking Up, Photography
Brinley Elkins, Grade 11
Waters of West Virginia, Photography
Chloe McCoy, Grade 11
Frozen Oaks, Photography
Ava Smith, Grade 11
Ice Fishing, Photography
Grace Sowards, Grade 11
Azure Wings, Photography
Teacher: Marisa Main
Lelia Bishop, Grade 9
Strawberry Stripes Forever, Acrylic Paint
Lauryn Coffman, Grade 10
Small Turmoil, Acrylic Paint and Graphite
Mercedez Garcia-Canul, Grade 11
Feeling Empty, Mixed Media
Zah Jackson, Grade 11
Insect in Green Circle, Acrylic Paint
Katherine Lawrence, Grade 12
Blue Butterfly on Wall of Flowers, Acrylic Paint
Chloe Masey, Grade 12
Monkey, Graphite
Raegen McCormick, Grade 12
Bees, Acrylic Paint
Abbey Mobley, Grade 9
Blue and Orange Butterfly, Acrylic Paint
Jayonna Skaggs, Grade 11
Insects and Color Theory, Acrylic Paint
Skyla Spears, Grade 11
Flower Crop on Green, Acrylic Paint
Charlotte Tigchelaar, Grade 12
Yellow Moths and Color Theory, Acrylic Paint
Nick Wilson, Grade 11
Red Flowers on Gray Tones, Acrylic Paint
KANAWHA COUNTY
George Washington High School
Art Teacher: Christy Pennington
Yasmin Al Yasin, Grade 12
Child of Famine, Mixed Media
The Magic of Childhood, Oil Paint transformed to Digital
Ava Berry, Grade 11
Pink Lillies, Fabric and Dye
Anahli Cordell, Grade 11
The Spiral Staircase, Acrylic Paint Reflection, Digital
Stella Diana, Grade 12
A Mothers Touch, Ballpoint Pen and Glitter Pen
I Just Want to Have Fun, Colored Pencil
Ava Dunbar, Grade 9
Patterned Man, Ink
Samir Jones, Grade 12
A Long, Dreadful Walk, Mixed Media
AHHH!, Ink
Archana Krishnathas, Grade 11
The Dromedary, Oil Paint
A “Ribbit”-ing Sight, Oil Paint
Landyn Lowe, Grade 12
You Give Me Butterflies, Oil Pastel
Pink Haze, Oil Pastel
Alexis “Sammy” Lowe, Grade 11
Imperial Moth, Mixed Media
Katherine Mattix, Grade 10
A Gift of Serenity, Acrylic Paint
Emma Miller, Grade 10
The Mold of the Person, Mixed Media
Snowy Treeline, Watercolor
Abigail Paas, Grade 11
Burn the Bridge, Pen
Sadi Painter, Grade 12
Boy in Blue, Acrylic Paint
discombobulated, Acrylic Paint
Katherine Pence, Grade 12
Don’t Look, Graphite
Withering, Acrylic Paint
Madelene Peyatte, Grade 11
Salmon Run, Mixed Media
Victory Pass, Mixed Media
Ellie Pritt, Grade 12
Orb of Sight, Colored Pencil
Junk Drawer, Colored Pencil
Maryn Lee Reed, Grade 12
Brooklyn Baby, Chalk Pastel
Rodentia, Graphite
Madeline Schaefer, Grade 11
Are You Not Entertained?, Colored Pencil
Penguins; the PREDATOR, Mixed Media
Ava Shamblin, Grade 11
Pinkest Pieces, Acrylic Paint
Serene, Oil Pastel
Elle Smith, Grade 11
Hiding in the Dark, Acrylic Paint
The World in my Hands, Colored Pencil
Rachel Thompson, Grade 10
A Fight Against Racism at the Met Gala, Mixed Media
Then vs. Now: The Cheongsam of Today, Mixed Media
Eric Vickers, Grade 11
Stop the Pigs, Mixed Media
Crisis, Acrylic Paint
Cabott Williams, Grade 11
CIRCLES AND PEACOCKS, Mixed Media
HIDING BEHIND HAIR, Chalk Pastel
Lily Wilson, Grade 11
Coming of Age, Acrylic Paint
Silence of the Sound, Watercolor
Art Teacher: Sugitha Arinivasen
Mrithula Premchanth (Grade 10)
American Goldfinch, Mixed Media
Blue Jay in Winter, Colored Pencil
Herbert Hoover High School
Art Teacher: Niesha Shank
Scout Cox, Grade 10
Yggdrasil, Wood Carving/Burning
Khalia Reid, Grade 10
All Under Pressure, Oil Paint
Emma White, Grade 12
Oh My Child, Oil Paint
Nitro High School
Art Teacher: Danielle Hunt
Penelope Allen, Grade 10
Bluestone, Oil Pastel
John Boggs, Grade 11
Grilled Cheese, Watercolor
Trinity Burns, Grade 12
Still Life, Graphite
Baylee Carpenter, Grade 11
Untitled, Watercolor and Ink
Malissie Caruthers, Grade 12
Still-Life, Graphite
Maddox Cole, Grade 11
Pizza, Junk Sculpture
Isabella Cowger, Grade 12
Still Life, Graphite
Harlee Curry, Grade 12
Collage, Mixed Media
Lida Evans, Grade 10
Surrealism Blackwater Canyon, Oil Pastel
Hayden Fields, Grade 12
Pipeline Overlook, Pencil
Avocado Toast, Watercolor
Emanuel Garnica, Grade 12
Monochromatic Elephant, Acrylic Paint
Kindra Gibson, Grade 11
Babcock Gristmill, Watercolor and Ink
Ava Hunt, Grade 12
Red Spotted Newt, Collage
Cece Lackey, Grade 11
Coal Miner, Multimedia
Long Point, Watercolor
Addisyn Miller, Grade 12
Lifesize Buck, Soft Pastel
Tyler Oaks, Grade 10
Surrealism, Surrealism Sculpture
Layla Ramsey, Grade 9
Surrealism, Mixed Media
Liliana Ricker, Grade 11
Marie Antoinette, Watercolor
Sanai Simmons, Grade 12
Nature Study, Colored Pencil
Lauren Spencer, Grade 12
White Water Rafting, Mixed Medium
Jonah Thompson, Grade 12
Bernard, Junk Sculpture
Elliott Tuckwiller, Grade 12
Haunted Helvetia, Watercolor and Ink
Abstract Watercolor, Watercolor and Ink
Erica Turley, Grade 12
Watercolor Peppers, Watercolor
Vixen Walter, Grade 10
UHF, Mixed Media
Melody Zhang, Grade 12
Untitled, Watercolor
Untitled, Watercolor
South Charleston High School
Art Teacher: April Noble
Hailey Jordan Chappell, Grade 12
Out and In, Oil Pastel
Rukiye Reyyan Cinar, Grade 10
Oceans Inside the Rooms, Graphite Pencil
Julio Corona, Grade 12
Mount Rushmore, but Awesome, Marker Brushes
Miley Sigmon, Grade 10
Solar Eclipse, Colored Pencil and Graphite Pencil
Launia Smith-Desper, Grade 12
Barb’s Hand, Crayon and Colored Pencil
Camryn Stricker, Grade 12
80s Pattern, Sharpie
Katelyn Sutphin, Grade 12
Knowledge, Mixed Media
Jaidyn Wickline, Grade 12
Underwater Company, Mixed Media
MASON COUNTY
Wahama Jr./Sr. High School
Art Teacher: Susan Parrish
Payton Barnitz, Grade 10
Green Thumb, Acrylic Paint
Mary Brinker, Grade 10
Gaudineer Knob, Photography
Lilly Lear, Grade 9
Milky Way Majesty, Pen and Ink
Kobe Moore, Grade 9
Street of Wonder, Ink
Logan Neal, Grade 10
After Life, Pencil and Charcoal Pencil
PUTNAM COUNTY
Poca High School
Art Teacher: Cathy Thomas
Roxy Angell, Grade 9
Golden, Mixed Media
Bored Medusa, Collage with Sharpie Detail
Kayla Nelson, Grade 9
Sparks of Angel Kisses, Acrylic Paint
Lyan Oduncu, Grade 12
Die Kathedrale des Orients, Graphite Pencil
Jessica Wilkinson, Grade 12
The Follies of Fall, Acrylic Paint and Colored Pencil
WAYNE COUNTY
Spring Valley High School
Art Teacher: Rachel Bocook
Jazmyn Pack, Grade 10
My Resilient Mother, Coloxed Pencil
Art Teacher: Sara Tess Hager
Gabrielle Lenoir, Grade 11
3 Heads, Colored Pencil
Savannah Elizabeth Parker, Grade 10
Autumn Watercolor Leaves, Watercolor
Kaylynn Spangler, Grade 10
Birthday, Marker
Alyssa Staley, Grade 10
Lilac Falls, Acrylic on Canvas
WEBSTER COUNTY
Webster County High School
Art Teacher: Pam Hall
Hailey Arbogast, Grade 11
Sassy, Watercolor
Parthenia Carpenter, Grade 12
Beloved Waited, Charcoal
Bella Carpenter, Grade 12
Hawaiian Brick Flower, Oil Pastel
Briley Clayton, Grade 10
Smokey Skull, Chalk Pastel
Gracyn Durham, Grade 9
Picture your Happy Place, Pencil and Paint
Karissa Giles, Grade 11
Unfolding Beauty, Oil Pastel
Afterglow, Chalk Pastel
Gabriel Giles, Grade 11
The Ram and the Mountains, Oil Pastel
Ryelle Gillispie, Grade 12
Mossy Waterfall, Chalk Pastel
McKenzie Lucille Hoke, Grade 10
A Lone Skull, Oil Pastel
Hailey Johnson, Grade 11
The Walk, Mixed Media
Haley Lamb, Grade 10
Look Into My Eyes, Colored Pencil
Billie, Acrylic Paint
Dylan Lough, Grade 11
Lost from the Herd, Oil Pastel
Riley McCartney, Grade 11
Path, Chalk Pastel
Stevie Moffatt, Grade 12
Mythical Chaos, Watercolor
Elanor Narraway, Grade 10
Elanor Flower, Oil Pastel
Emma Prater, Grade 11
A Piece of Time, Pen and Pencil
Lilly Ratliff, Grade 11
The Red Flower, Oil Pastel
Preston Simmons, Grade 8
Lexi Dog, Photography
Alex Snyder, Grade 8
Tabitha’s Love, Acrylic Paint
Hannah Wayne, Grade 12
Spring Morning, Chalk Pastel
DISTRICT 2
HARRISON COUNTY
Bridgeport High School
Art Teacher: Courtney Rankin
Catherine Camenga, Grade 11
Contemplating Purple, Mixed Media
Eva Camenga, Grade 11
Bubble Fish, Acrylic Paint and Ink
Morgan Grose, Grade 11
Windmill Sheathed in Greenery, Watercolor and Micron Pen
Tenley Holler, Grade 10
We Are Art, Mixed Media
Atiana Lopez, Grade 11
Faded Memories, Charcoal
Sierra Noonan, Grade 11
Pervasive, Watercolor
Quinn Ratliff, Grade 12
Chestnut Ridge, Acrylic Paint
Sophia Schroeder, Grade 12
Warped Reflection, Acrylic Paint
Jay Scott, Grade 11
The Beast, Charcoal
Robert C. Byrd High School
Art Teacher: Katherine Crim
Taylor Arnett, Grade 12
Glow, Bleach Paint on Black Matte Board
Katelyn Braden, Grade 10
Daisy, Tempera Paint
Miyako Cole, Grade 10
White Wonder, Watercolor and Gouache
Kadence Daffin, Grade 12
Curly Side Eye, Paper
Rian Hoalcraft, Grade 12
Habitat Hue, Chalk Pastels
Caylee Nesbitt, Grade 12
Man vs. Nature, Chalk Pastels
Caleb Roselius, Grade 11
Fresh Cut, Scratchboard
Maria Roselius, Grade 9
Me and My Dad, Chalk Pastels
MARSHALL COUNTY
John Marshall High School
Teacher: Elaina DePetro
Abbie Allen, Grade 10
A Foggy Morning, Acrylic Paint and Watercolor
Chyanne Foster, Grade 10
Roses in a Glass, Oil Pastel
Emily McClintock, Grade 11
Lady in Thought, Sharpie and Pencil
Hailey Murphy, Grade 11
Star Girl, Markers and Gel Pen
Elaina Updegraff, Grade 12
Opened Up, Acrylic Paint
Jessica West, Grade 11
Mary, Colored Pencil
WOOD COUNTY
Williamstown High School
Teacher: Ashley Whipkey
Alayna Garst (Grade 12)
Feeling Hue, Mixed Media
