Congressman Jesús 'Chuy' García (IL-04) Announces Winner of 2026 Congressional Art Competition

CHICAGO - Today, Congressman Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04) announced that the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for Illinois' 4th Congressional District is Mariana Ramirez, a student at J.S. Morton West High School and resident of the Village of Lyons, Illinois. Mariana's piece, titled "Just Following Orders," depicts the cruelty of ICE enforcement in Chicago and the impact it has had on all community members. This art piece will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year alongside winning students' artwork from across the country. The piece has already drawn widespread local praise for its powerful portrayal of identity, and the lived experiences of immigrant communities across the Chicago area.

"I wanted to bring awareness to this current issue and express the two sides using an anaglyph technique," said Mariana. "I also used words and images to symbolize the hate and discrimination of working-class immigrants who make America what it is today. Additionally, I added a mural on the wall that represents immigrants in America with monarch butterflies, which are natural migrants and symbolize the process of migration that is ever-present in nature and necessary for their survival. The plants growing symbolize the economy and society, depicting the abundance and contribution immigrants make to our growing economy. The other side of the wall in my piece shows dying plants wilting away, expressing how, without immigrants, America would be nothing."

"Art has always served as a reflection of the times we live in, and this is clear when we look at Mariana Ramirez's piece. 'Just Following Orders' depicts some of the worst of the violent immigration operations that took place in Chicagoland last year," said Congressman García. "Her artwork is an example of the emotional impact these attacks have had on all our residents. It's a piece that everyone needs to see, and I'll be very proud it will represent our district in the U.S. Capitol."

You can view a picture of Mariana Ramirez's winning piece of art on this link.

About the Competition

Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in congressional districts nationwide. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Winners are honored locally and at a national awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. Their artwork is displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.

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