McClellan Announces 2026 Congressional Art Competition Winners

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) announced the winners of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for Virginia's Fourth District. The overall first place winner, Gabrielle Williams, submitted her original acrylic painting entitled American Dream. An eleventh grader attending Thomas Dale High School in Chester, Virginia, Gabrielle is a dedicated student artist and scholar whose accomplishments reflect both academic excellence and creative achievement. She has received multiple distinctions for her art in the prestigious Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the Monumental Honor competition sponsored by the Virginia War Memorial Foundation and more. Her work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol later this year.

"Congratulations to Gabrielle for her winning submission to this year's Congressional Art Competition! With a fun, cartoony style and striking colors, her piece represents the theft of Black culture and how members of the Black community, especially Black women, are perceived when they choose to respond or protest against cultural appropriation," said Congresswoman McClellan. "Every year, the sheer amount of creativity and talent from young artists across Virginia's Fourth astounds me. Thank you to the students who participated this year and chose to share their perspectives with us through creative expression. I encourage you all to continue pursuing this passion and let it guide you for years to come!"

Congresswoman McClellan also announced the following finalists:

• Kaushal Rai, a student attending Veritas School, tied for second place with his piece Hen Illustration.
• Sofia Barrett, an eleventh grader attending Colonial Heights High School, tied for second place with her piece Clematis Child.
• Emily S. John, a student attending Hermitage High School, tied for third place with her piece A Day in Pepperland.
• Emily Gallahun, a student attending Colonial Heights High School, tied for third place with her piece Freedom of the Wildflowers.

The panel of art judges reviewing each piece consisted of S. Ross Browne, Sir James Thornhill, Allie Sarinana, Sara Ward and Taekia Glass. Below is a full list of submissions for this year and honorable mentions in each category.

Overall Congressional Art Competition Winners:

• 1st Place: American Dream by Gabrielle Williams of Thomas Dale High School
• 2nd Place: Hen Illustration by Kaushal Rai of Veritas School / Clematis Child by Sofia Barrett of Colonial Heights High School
• 3rd Place: A Day in Pepperland by Emily S. John of Hermitage High School / Freedom of the Wildflowers by Emily Gallahun of Colonial Heights High School

Paintings:

• 1st Place: American Dream by Gabrielle Williams of Thomas Dale High School
• 2nd Place: Freedom of the Wildflowers by Emily Gallahun of Colonial Heights High School / Cherry Blossoms After Winter by Sofia Barrett of Colonial Heights High School
• 3rd Place: Beauty by Juliet Torres of Colonial Heights High School
• Honorable Mention: Tearing a Bond by Mia Salinas Santiago of Petersburg High School
• Honorable Mention: Hee Haa! by Jennifer Campbell of Petersburg High School

Drawings:

• 1st Place: Hen Illustration by Kaushal Rai of Veritas School
• 2nd Place: A Day in Pepperland by Emily S. John of Hermitage High School
• 3rd Place: Between Two Worlds by Morgan Schaaf of Varina High School
• Honorable Mention: King James by Zoe Page of Thomas Dale High School
• Honorable Mention: Manual Labor by Kyani Donahue of Petersburg High School

Photography:

• 1st Place: In the Hands of Fate by Diego Hopewell of Clover Hill High School
• 2nd Place: Drained by Courtney Hughes of Clover Hill High School
• 3rd Place: Life Through a Lens by Tristan Rodriguez of Clover Hill High School / Is Life a Game Because It Consumes My Mind by Angel S. Wynn of Clover Hill High School
• Honorable Mention: Lightning the way threw the snow by Joselin Johnson of Clover Hill High School / Vernal Nature by Donovan Millner of Clover Hill High School

Mixed Media:

• 1st Place: Clematis Child by Sofia Barrett of Colonial Heights High School
• 2nd Place: A Part of Me by Emely De Los Satos Muniz of Thomas Dale High School
• 3rd Place: Rights to Vote by Jimmy Medina of Petersburg High School

Digital:

• 1st Place: Expectations by Jazlyn Nichols-Pierce of Petersburg High School
• 2nd Place: The Virtual Cage by Lily Frantz Laferriere of Clover Hill High School
• 3rd Place: American Screams of Freedom by Storm Burns of Petersburg High School
• Honorable Mention: Dark Freedom by Nykerah Aiden-Ampy of Petersburg High School
• Honorable Mention: Panic Stress by Gabriela Villarroel Chang of Thomas Dale High School

Other Media:

• Honorable Mention for sculpture with clay: Tree Bark by Ivy Craig of Hermitage High School

America's 250th Birthday/Patriotic Theme:

• Honorable Mention: What We Celebrate by Grace Zheng of Maggie L. Walker Governor's School
• Honorable Mention: Longevity & Prosperity by Josalyn Youngblood of Grove Christian School