Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced Wenqing Lu from Oak Park High School as the winner of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for California’s 26th Congressional District. Lu’s piece, “Inner Worlds Never Fade,” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol complex for one year.
“I am always deeply impressed by the incredible artwork submitted to my office in the Congressional Art Competition, and in my final year of hosting this event, the pieces we received from students throughout our region surpassed all expectations. Wenqing Lu’s poignant artwork exemplifies the creativity and talent that thrives in our community, and I congratulate her on this well-deserved recognition and the opportunity to have her work displayed in the halls of our Capitol,” said Congresswoman Brownley.
“Art is a powerful form of expression that allows students to harness their imagination and share perspectives, experiences, and ideas that matter deeply to them. I am proud of every student who participated in this year’s competition and shared something meaningful through their work. This event is truly a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our community’s up-and-coming artists and the unique voices they bring to the world.”
“I am incredibly honored to have my artwork selected as the first place winner in the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. Seeing my work recognized alongside so many talented artists in our community is deeply meaningful for me and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to share my work on this platform. Art has become one of the most important ways I express my thoughts, explore identity, and communicate ideas that are difficult to express with just words alone. I love doing art whenever I can because it soothes me and lets me harness my creative freedom. I also hope viewers can connect my art with their own interpretations and experiences. With this painting, I wanted to show how inner worlds never fade. Even in old age, like the woman I painted, creativity is always there. That childlike wonder still exists deep inside all of us,” said Wenqing Lu, 2026 Congressional Art Competition winner for California’s 26th Congressional District.
“We are so proud of Wenqing! Her piece speaks to the joy and fullness of life while celebrating multi-generational relationships. Art is meant to be shared and we are honored that one of our students’ voices will be displayed so others can enjoy it,” said Mat McClenahan, principal of Oak Park High School.
“Oak Park High School is proud that Wenqing Lu is representing our school and district for the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. ‘Inner Worlds Never Fade’ represents our people and our diverse, beautiful community. Wenqing shows the joy of creativity encompassing innovation that never truly leaves you, no matter what age. I am so proud of the work that is being created in our classroom, the talent and passion at Oak Park High School is terrific. Wenqing’s work leaves me in awe and I am proud to know her for the kind person that she is as well,” said Anna Mendez, Visual Arts and AP Art teacher at Oak Park High School.
“This year’s Congressional Art Competition was both challenging and rewarding to judge. It was challenging because the number of entries demonstrating advanced artistic skill, creative experimentation, and technical mastery made selecting a winner no easy task. At the same time, it was deeply rewarding to see how students interpreted the world around them on canvas and paper. Wenqing Lu’s compelling juxtaposition of highly realistic figurative art with whimsical illustrations, combined with its intimate familial theme, distinguished the work as especially deserving of the competition’s top honor,” said Jeffrey Bowen, art competition judge.
“It was an honor to serve as one of the judges for this year’s Congressional Art Competition. When I arrived to judge I decided to start with the ‘wow factor’ to get a feel for the work submitted. As I quickly walked past all the work, I was immediately drawn to four pieces on the first pass. Knowing the makers were all high school students, I was very impressed at the skill level on display with each work of art. There were 34 submissions, and I began judging by sitting with each piece and absorbing the topic, the colors, the style, and how the piece made me feel — that is what art & photography is all about anyway. As I moved from piece to piece, I could envision who each artist was by the feeling the work revealed. The piece that won, ‘Inner Worlds Never Fade’ had all of that!” said Bill Horstick, art competition judge.
“Wenqing Lu’s ‘Inner Worlds Never Fade’ captures the boundless possibilities that imagination offers. Her work feels like a doorway into something deeply personal yet universally felt by individuals of any and all ages. She beautifully captured a moment where ideas stretch beyond limits and take on a life of their own. It’s a powerful reminder that imagination doesn’t just reflect our inner worlds, it expands them,” said Cristian Rivas, art competition judge.
Two honorable mentions were also recognized: “Uniquely American” by Dylan Li from Newbury Park High School and “us.” by Kate O’Loughlin from Westlake High School.
Started in 1982, the nationwide Congressional Art Competition is sponsored by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and provides an opportunity to recognize and encourage student artistic talent from across the country.
Submissions from students in grades 9-12 across California’s 26th Congressional District were judged by a panel of local judges who work in the arts, academic, and social work fields. This year’s submissions were judged by Jeffrey Bowen, Director of Library Programming and Public Affairs at Pepperdine University; Bill Horstick, Superintendent for Ventura County Fairgrounds’ Photography Department; and Cristian Rivas, a local artist from Oxnard.
###
Issues: 119th Congress, Local Issues