2026 Congressional Art Competition: First and second place works from Maine’s two congressional districts. District 1: Blissful Innocence by Claudette Wesse and Rihanna by Lila Abbott. District 2: Gramps by Elden Irish and The Sunflower Child by Josephine Connelly.
Maine Excellence in Arts Education
The Maine Arts Commission celebrates arts education through an annual exhibition of outstanding student artwork at the Maine State House Complex. Maine Excellence in Arts Education recognizes the creativity and accomplishments of Maine students and the teachers, families, and communities that support their work.
The 2026 Exhibit
Each year, the Maine Arts Commission partners with Maine College of Art & Design and Maine’s two Congressional offices to highlight exemplary high school student artists. Nearly 1,000 Maine student works were submitted to the 2026 regional Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, and 177 students received regional recognition.
A separate jury selected 43 works for the Maine Excellence in Arts Education exhibition. The exhibition was on view at the Burton M. Cross Building from March 16 through May 28, 2026. The Congressional Art Competition also selects one first-place work from each of Maine’s two districts for display at the U.S. Capitol, with runners-up represented in the Maine Excellence exhibition.
These student artists thrive through the dedicated mentoring of their art teachers and the encouragement of their families and communities. The Maine Arts Commission is proud to share their work.
2026 Student Artwork
Congressional Art Competition · District 1 · Second Place
Rihanna
Lila Abbott
Grade 12 | Drawing
Freeport High School
Teacher: Kimberly Medsker-Mehalic
Lay into it
Corin Altemus
Grade 12 | Drawing
Little River In Oil
Rozlyn Ayotte
Grade 12 | Painting
Thornton Academy
Teacher: Jodi Thomas
Altered Landscape
Bela Bukaty
Grade 11 | Mixed Media
Freeport High School
Teacher: Kimberly Medsker-Mehalic
Broken glass
Seoin Choi
Grade 11 | Drawing
Maine Central Institute
Teacher: Matthew George
Careless Fisherman
Gyuwon Choi
Grade 10 | Drawing
Maine Central Institute
Teacher: Matthew George
The Bravest Knight
Micah Collins
Grade 11 | Painting
Baxter Academy Tech & Science
Teacher: Matthew Barnes
Congressional Art Competition · District 2 · Second Place
The Sunflower Child
Josephine Connelly
Grade 12 | Drawing
Sacopee Valley High School
Teacher: Shaelin Shields
For My Grandfather
Ainsley Cope
Grade 10 | Drawing
Kennebunk High School
Teacher: Marnie Rollerson
Can't escape
Lillian Courtois
Grade 11 | Experimental Photography
Wells High School
Teacher: McKenzie Philbrick
Thin Ice
Chloe Egan
Grade 11 | Painting
Camden Hills Regional High School
Teacher: Carolyn Brown
If only, they saw themselves as I see them.
Jemima Fitzpatrick
Grade 12 | Portfolio Category (Art)
Morse High School
Congressional Art Competition · District 2 · Honorable Mention
Inspection
Jack Flaherty
Grade 12 | Drawing
Gray-New Gloucester High School
Teacher: Mary Pennington
The Heart in the City
Morgan Goodrich
Grade 12 | Ceramics & Glass
Yarmouth High School
Teacher: Holly Houston
Congressional Art Competition · District 1 · Third Place
Paper Money
Nina He
Grade 11 | Illustration
Freeport High School
Teacher: Kimberly Medsker-Mehalic
Still Life of Peppers
Elsa Henriksen
Grade 12 | Painting
South Portland High School
Teacher: Matthew Meyer
The Bag They Gave Me
Leah Henry
Grade 12 | Drawing
Hebron Academy
Teacher: Gabe Miller
Ethereal
Lio Jeanneret
Grade 12 | Photography
Scarborough High School
My Dad
Brenna Johnson
Grade 11 | Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage
Bonny Eagle High School
Teacher: Sarah Templeton Bush
Congressional Art Competition · District 1 · Honorable Mention
In the Field
Tryntje Johnson
Grade 12 | Mixed Media
Kennebunk High School
Teacher: Katie Mooney
Melanin and Memory Self-Portrait
Laurelei Kebokere
Grade 12 | Drawing
South Portland High School
Teacher: Matthew Meyer
Congressional Art Competition · District 1 · Honorable Mention
Bleed Blue
Jack Landry
Grade 11 | Photography
Westbrook High School
Lexi Self Portrait
Alexis Leo
Grade 12 | Drawing
South Portland High School
Teacher: Matthew Meyer
Persephone - The Light and The Dark
Peyton Lipscomb
Grade 11 | Graphic Design
Oxford Hills Tech School
Teacher: VIRGINIA VALDES
Mom's Love
Anna-Maria Loboda
Grade 12 | Painting
Portland Arts & Tech High School
Teacher: Elizabeth Long
Asteroid
Nikos louisos-daniels
Grade 11 | Photography
Baxter Academy Tech & Science
Teacher: Matthew Barnes
Congressional Art Competition · District 2 · Third Place
Day-Light Forest
Allie McGee
Grade 11 | Printmaking
Freeport High School
Teacher: Kimberly Medsker-Mehalic
Raven Reassembled
Georgia Moon
Grade 11 | Sculpture
Falmouth High School
Teacher: Nancy Goldstone
Self portrait: ‘My Sides’
Ravita Nakjaroen
Grade 11 | Painting
Camden Hills Regional High School
Teacher: Carolyn Brown
Dark on the bus
Paxton Peavey
Grade 9 | Painting
Vinalhaven School
Teacher: Heather White
regression?
Leo Porter
Grade 12 | Painting
Scarborough High School
Teacher: Erin Landry-Fowler
Congressional Art Competition · District 2 · Honorable Mention
Frankenstein Chocolate Bar
Parker Poulin
Grade 12 | Graphic Design
Bangor High School
Teacher: Susan Bryand
Every Second
Caroline Roberts
Grade 11 | Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage
Lincoln Academy
Teacher: Nina Sylvia
From Home
jaiden Roberts
Grade 12 | Drawing
Kennebunk High School
Teacher: Katie Mooney
Widowed
Quianna Roby
Grade 11 | Painting
Brewer High School
Teacher: Lori Spruce
The Window
Penelope Schofield
Grade 10 | Printmaking
Casco Bay High School
Teacher: Alexandra Taraschi
Congressional Art Competition · District 2 · Honorable Mention
midnight
Luana Vitoria Sena
Grade 11 | Printmaking
Freeport High School
Teacher: Kimberly Medsker-Mehalic
Lone House
Marsden Shetterly
Grade 11 | Experimental Photography
Freeport High School
Teacher: Kimberly Medsker-Mehalic
going downstream
Ayla Smith
Grade 11 | Digital Painting, Drawing & Collage
Scarborough High School
Secret Secret
Emily Stanford
Grade 10 | Drawing
Poland Regional High School
Teacher: Valerie Nixon
Nature's Jewels
Ember Stevens
Grade 11 | Photography
Sacopee Valley High School
Teacher: Shaelin Shields
Congressional Art Competition · District 1 · Honorable Mention
Herons
Jaidyn Stultz
Grade 12 | Illustration
Freeport High School
Teacher: Kimberly Medsker-Mehalic
They Walked First
Cody Taylor
Grade 11 | Ceramics & Glass
Sacopee Valley High School
Teacher: Shaelin Shields
