Strickland Announces 2026 Congressional Art Competition Winner

Lacey, WA - Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) announced Camille Franco, a junior at the Schools of the Arts in Tacoma, Washington as the 2026 Congressional Art Competition winner for Washington's 10th Congressional District. Franco was selected by a panel of judges for her painting featuring her herself as a child and her grandmother. Franco's painting will be displayed in the United States Capitol for one year.

"I want to congratulate Camille Franco from Tacoma for winning the Congressional Art Competition," said Strickland. "This emotional painting represents love, beauty, and family. I look forward to seeing the artwork on display as I walk around the Capitol, and I want to thank our judges and all the students who participated."

"This piece was inspired by my grandmother, Mama Vero and my baby brother Luke," said Camille Franco, the winning artist. "These two individuals are extremely dear to me and were the first people I thought of when I heard the prompt "Natural Beauty". My grandmother specifically, as she is not only my inspiration, but she also represents love, strength, and courage. However, she often times feels unconfident as her features age. It honestly pains me to see her become insecure when I know how truly beautiful she is inside and out. I intended to depict the beauty of aging, as well as beauty in all ages with this piece; so that maybe she could see how I see her.

"Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland invited High School Students to explore the theme of "Natural Beauty" for the Congressional Art Competition this year," said Dr. Jennifer Olson, competition judge. "The artists responded with creative images of family, nature, a self-portrait, still-lifes, and others in a range of media and styles. This competition is a wonderful opportunity for area students, and it highlights the educational accomplishments of the teachers in the district."

"In addition to displaying technical prowess, the winning piece skillfully captures the tenderness, beauty, joy, and reciprocity of familial connection and the natural outpouring of love," said Assistant Professor Linda Lucía Santana, competition judge.

"I was so very impressed by this year's travel award winner," said Professor Dave Roholt, competition judge. "Not only the spot-on response to the theme and strong narrative, also the fine technique and skills needed when working in a challenging format of oil paint. The edge control and brushwork stood out with a very mature vibe for being such a young and obviously gifted artist. This year it was a challenge to narrow down a winner with so many powerful renderings, yet as a committee, we are very pleased with the award winners gusto and heartwarming painting. It will represent our district and state proudly."

This year's panel of judges for Washington's 10th Congressional District included Jennifer Olson, Faculty at Tacoma Community College; Charles Bloomfield, a local artist and educator; Linda Lucía Santana, Assistant Professor of Art at Pierce College; and Dave Roholt, Professor of Art at Pierce College.

The Congressional Art Competition was launched in 1982 to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of young constituents from across the country with the chance to display their art in the United States Capitol.

Congresswoman Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. She is Whip of the New Democrat Coalition, Secretary of the Congressional Black Caucus, and is one of the first Korean-American women elected to Congress.

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