Each spring, a nationwide high school art competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives. An Artistic Discovery contest is an opportunity to recognize and encourage the artistic talent in our congressional district, as well as the nation.

An Artistic Discovery contest is open to all high school students in the 4th Congressional District. The overall winner of our district's competition will be displayed for about one year in the U.S. Capitol and will receive two round-trip airfare tickets to attend a reception in D.C. The exhibit in Washington will also include artwork from other contest winners nationwide. Prizes may be awarded.

2024 Directions to Enter
The deadline for submissions is Thursday, March 28, 2024. Please complete all three steps to be included.

  1. Complete the online entry form at estes.house.gov/constituent-services/art-competition-info-and-release.htm by March 28.
  2. Prepare your artwork. Artwork must be (a.) ready to hang (e.g. matted with a hanging mechanism) with your (b.) identifying information on the back (your name, title of piece, name of school and teacher).
  3. Turn in your artwork to the Office of Congressman Ron Estes at 7701 E. Kellogg, Ste. 510, Wichita, KS 67207 by 5 p.m. on Thursday, March 28.

Artwork entered in the contest must be two-dimensional artwork that, when framed, will be no larger than 26” x 26” x 4” deep with a maximum weight of 15 pounds. No glass is allowed. Work must be ready to hang. It does not have to be framed but should be frame-ready (e.g. matted with a hanging mechanism – fully prepared to hang on a wall or flat surface with no additional hardware or preparation). The artwork may be:

  • Paintings - including oil, acrylics, and watercolor
  • Drawings - including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers
  • Collage - must be two-dimensional
  • Prints - including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints
  • Mixed Media
  • Computer Generated Art
  • Photography

All entries must be an original in concept, design and execution and may not violate U.S. copyright laws. Work cannot be copied from an existing photo or image that was created by someone other than the student. Work must be in its original medium and cannot be a scanned reproduction of a painting or drawing.

Artwork that is potentially inappropriate for display in the Capitol will not be considered. This determination will be made by a panel. Exhibits depicting subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature will not be allowed.

2024 Art Show and Awards Reception
All submissions that meet the contest criteria will be on display at Mark Arts in Wichita April 12 to May 9. A reception will be held Saturday, April 20, at 10 a.m.

Learn More
If you would like more information, please call (316) 262-8992 or email roger.erickson@mail.house.gov.

2023 Congressional Art Competition – Final Results
1st Place – Hannah Wiebe, "Friends in a Car," Acrylic, Goddard High School
2nd Place – Davey Schmidt, "Abstract Wichita Cityscape," Acrylic, Wichita High School Southeast
3rd Place – Haley Wyckoff, "(John 13)," Pencil, Arkansas City High School

Honorable Mentions:

Lyric Bohling, "Karafufu," Acrylic, Central Christian Academy
Grace Beavers, "Sunset in Wheat Field," Pastel, Cheney High School
Amy Elizabeth Black, "The Moment of Baring One’s Self," Acrylic, Douglass High School
Addison Cate Cartmell, "Ready to Pounce," Charcoal, Flinthills High School
Laura Scribner, "Chicken in Blue," Acrylic, Flinthills High School
Taylor Sutton, "Bingo the Flamingo," Acrylic, Flinthills High School
Hannah Wiebe, "In Our Eyes," Mixed Media, Goddard High School
Hadley White, "respite," Computer-generated Art, Star-Splitter Academy
Wambui Ngunjiri, "Caught in the Woods," Oil, Wichita Collegiate School
Natalie Reece, "Sundara," Mixed Media, Wichita Collegiate School
Iya Wakil, "Ayoon Al Layl (The Night’s Eyes)," Mixed Media, Wichita Collegiate School
Ciara Abong’o, "A Lot On My Mind," Mixed Media, Wichita High School East
Nichelle Tran, "Feeling Red," Photography, Wichita High School East
Adanya DeVries, "Red Bird in the Grove," Watercolor, Wichita Northeast Magnet
Madison Chichester, "Kisses," Pencil, Wichita High School Northwest
Tristen Chandavong, "The Gold She Wears," Mixed Media, Wichita High School Southeast

People's Choice (as determined by votes during the April 22 awards reception):
Brooklyn Hicks, "My Peace," Mixed Media, Wichita Northeast Magnet

2023 Congressional Art Competition Winning Pieces and Reception (click for details, scroll for more, some teachers/friends accepted awards for students not present)



2022 Congressional Art Competition – Final Results
1st Place – Jacob Espinoza, "The Bouquet," Mixed Media, Wichita High School East
2nd Place – Haley Wyckoff, "Hands of a Fisherman," Pencil, Arkansas City High School
3rd Place – Taylor Sutton, "Danica's Cow," Painting, Flinthills High School

Honorable Mentions:
Madeleine Albert, "Deceitful Guidance," Mixed Media, Wichita Collegiate School
Madeleine Albert, "Disentanglement," Mixed Media, Wichita Collegiate School
Lily Conrad, "Phoenix," Painting, Wichita Collegiate School
Kayla Estrada, "Confined," Pencil, Arkansas City High School
Molly Ha, "Paro," Digital, Wichita High School East
Raegan Lefevre, "Portrait of a Young Woman," Photograph, Goddard High School
Isabelle Maida, "Lecture," Painting, Wichita High School East
Jocelyn Moran-Puentes, "Morning Night," Mixed Media, Wichita High School West
Ellie Schulte, "Linked for Life," Photograph, Wichita Collegiate School
Addison Smith, "Gas Station," Colored Pencil, Andover Central High School
Hannah Wiebe, "Record Player," Marker, Goddard High School
Corissa Wiles, "Still Moments," Photograph, Goddard High School

People's Choice (as determined by votes during the April 23 awards reception):
Brooklyn Hicks, "You did it!," Mixed Media, Wichita Northeast Magnet High School
Kelsey Smith, "Overgrown," Colored Pencil, Smith's Homeschool

2022 Congressional Art Competition Winning Pieces (click for details, scroll for more)



2021 Congressional Art Competition – Final Results
1st Place – Hadley Colquhoun, "2020," Pencil, Arkansas City High School
2nd Place – Rebekah Reed, "The Gatekeeper," Pencil, Wichita Northeast Magnet High School
3rd Place – Madeleine Albert, "Insanity, Meet Vulnerability," Mixed Media, Wichita Collegiate School

Honorable Mentions:
Ayah Al-Tabbal, "Glow Stick," Photograph, Wichita Collegiate School
Amelia Beck, "Peering into the Soul," Mixed Media, Wichita Heights High School
Kiyla Davis, "Annalynn," Painting, Campus High School
Camryn DeVore, "Floral Contrast," Painting, Cheney High School
Isiah Edison, "Earth’s Complexion," Colored Pencil, Hesston High School
Mara Howes, "8 Face," Acrylic Painting, Wichita East High School
Paola Montejano, "Afraid," Photograph, Wichita East High School
Taylor Sutton, "Grandma Gertrude," Pencil, Flint Hills High School

People's Choice (as determined by "faves" in the Flickr gallery by April 22, 2021):
Amelia Beck, "Peering into the Soul," Mixed Media, Wichita Heights High School

View the winning pieces on Facebook.

2020 Winners and Online Gallery
In 2020, students from across the District submitted their artwork in the Congressional Art Competition. Winners were announced on Thursday, May 28, at 5 p.m. on FacebookTwitterInstagram and YouTube. View all 2020 entries on our online gallery here.

2020 Congressional Art Competition – Final Results 
1st – Amy Baber, "Jade," Oil, Wichita Northeast Magnet High School 
2nd – Anahi Ticum, "I'shim," Acrylic, Wichita Northwest High School 
3rd – Ayah Al-Tabbal, "Bubble," Photography, Wichita Collegiate School 
 
Honorable Mention 
Madeleine Albert, "Heartbreak is Beautiful," Mixed Media, Wichita Collegiate School 
Amy Baber, "Saturated Soul," Oil, Wichita Northeast Magnet High School 
Leah Bowlby, "Fly," Ink, South Haven High School 
Hadley Colquhoun, "Green," Pencil, Arkansas City High School 
Hadley Colquhoun, "Hands," Pencil, Arkansas City High School 
Kelsey Smith, "Sunflower Sunshine," Colored Pencil, Smith's Homeschool 
Peyton Williams, "Self Portrait," Pencil, Arkansas City High School 
 
People's Choice (as determined by "faves" in the Flickr gallery by May 12, 2020) 
Erin Henry, "The Portrait of a Singer," Pencil, Sunrise Christian Academy 





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