Congressional Art Competition

Each spring, my office participates in the Congressional Art Competition. This nationwide high school arts competition gives Members of Congress the opportunity to recognize and encourage artistic talent from their Congressional District. 

The Congressional Art Competition is open to all high school students in California's 52nd Congressional District. The winning artist's work will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol along with artwork from all participating districts around the country.

I want to invite all interested student artists to participate. This year's theme is “Our Digital Reality": Explore the contrast between digital life and real human connection. Through two-dimensional artwork, students are encouraged to reflect on how technology shapes our identities, relationships, and everyday experiences, while highlighting the importance of authentic human connection.

Artwork entered in the contest may be up to 28 inches by 28 inches, may be up to 4 inches in depth, and not weigh more than 15 pounds. If your artwork is selected as the winning piece, it must arrive framed and must still measure no larger than the above maximum dimensions. Accepted mediums for the two-dimensional artwork are as follows:

  • Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.
  • Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal (Charcoal and pastel drawings must
    be fixed.)
  • Prints: lithographs, silk screen, block prints
  • Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.
  • Collages (must be two-dimensional)
  • Computer-generated art
  • Photographs

Each entry must be original in concept, design, and execution and may not violate U.S. copyright laws. Any entry that has been copied from an existing photo or image (including a painting, graphic, or advertisement) that was created by someone other than the student violates the competition rules and will not be accepted. The artwork must be in the original medium (i.e., not a scan of a painting, drawing, etc.).

The 2026 application process is now open. For full rules and regulations for the competition, click HERE. To participate in the Congressional Art Competition, you must fill out a Student Information and Release Form linked HERE.

The deadline to submit entries is Friday, April 17th, at 5:00 PM. All entries must be delivered to my district office at 333 F Street, Suite A, Chula Vista, CA 91910, along with a completed Student Information and Release Form.

As always, I can’t wait to see all the incredible art created by our talented student artists in California's 52nd Congressional District. If you have any additional questions, please reach out to Louis Ward at louis.ward@mail.house.gov.