Press Releases

LOWELL MA — Today, Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03) named Concord Academy 9th grader Elyn Tao as the winner of the Third District’s 2024 Congressional Art Competition during a reception honoring participants of this year’s challenge held at the Chelmsford Center for the Arts.

Elyn’s original artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year alongside other winners, and she will be invited to Washington, DC for the annual awards ceremony in June. Her painting, entitled “Mother Nature’s Last Embrace” was made with oil paint and portrays a kneeling woman wearing a traditional Chinese tunic surrounded by environmental elements such as coral reefs, ocean waves, and koi fish. The woman is the embodiment of Mother Nature, and her surroundings that include distressed fish, cracked floor, and wilting flora represent the impacts of climate change.

“Every year I look forward to hosting the Congressional Art Competition because of the incredible opportunity it creates to uplift and celebrate the tremendous talent of so many young artists across our district,” said Congresswoman Trahan. “Our students have incredible stories to tell, and the gifted young artists who entered this year’s competition have demonstrated extraordinary levels of talent through the powerful emotions their work evokes. Elyn’s painting is a stunning and graceful interpretation of how the climate crisis disrupts the balance and harmony of our ecosystem. I am thrilled to have the honor to bring Elyn’s artwork with me to Washington to light up the halls of Congress.”

The second-place winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition is Littleton High School 11th grader Emma Dressel with her graphic design “Dying Legacy”. The third-place winner is Acton-Boxborough Regional High School 11th grader Nuo Li with her oil painting “Fledgling”. Trahan’s office received 42 entries from students across the Third District. She invited several area art experts to help her select the winner, including President and Executive Director of the Whistler House Museum of Art Sara Bogosian, Executive Director of the Essex Art Center in Lawrence Monica Lynn Manoski, and Executive Director of UMBRELLA Arts Center Jerry Wedge.

About the Art Competition: Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, DC.

The winning pieces are displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. In addition, the winner will be invited to a celebratory reception in Washington D.C. in June.

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