Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) announced Lynn Moline from Newbury Park High School as the winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for California’s 26th Congressional District. Lynn’s piece “Memories” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol complex for one year.
“Every year, I am in awe of the incredible talent of the young artists throughout our region who participate in the Congressional Art Competition – and this year was no exception. Lynn’s artwork is an exceptional expression of creativity and talent, and I wholeheartedly extend my sincere congratulations to her and the winning piece that will represent our district in the Halls of Congress,” said Congresswoman Brownley.
“Art is an important outlet for students to express their emotions, channel their creativity, and advocate for the causes they care about. Our community is rich because of the contributions of the next generation of artists like all the young artists that participated in this competition.”
“Ever since I was a baby, art has been my passion. Art is a huge part of my life. At any point when I have free time, you can find me hunched over my desk drawing or painting. There is still a lot I want to improve, but this is a great achievement for me in that journey,” said Lynn Moline, the winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition. “I’m honored to have my artwork recognized, especially in such an artistic community and region filled with so much talent.”
“As founder of Heart4ART, a children’s art enrichment program, I am so delighted that Lynn Moline received this well-deserved recognition in the Congressional Art Competition. As a Heart4ART student since 4th grade, I truly believe that Lynn’s creative ambition will manifest in achieving many dreams and goals. I would like to emphasize how I am constantly impressed with her portfolio and extraordinary creative skills,” said Sharon Rachlin, art teacher at Newbury Park High School. “Lynn has often spoken to me about a creative future in the art world. She is a wonderfully kind and personable human being, who always leaves a positive impression with me and other Heart4ART students of all ages.”
“Memories stood out to me for its vivid color palette, technical excellence, and rich use of symbolism. Lynn, visually influenced by Dalí and the surrealists, invites the viewer to look closely at their composition and ask questions. What do the recognizable objects, placed where the subject’s head should be, represent? What are the scaly organic forms at left, and why is the person pulling off their face towards them? It’s a complex work that is worthy of this year’s highest honor in the competition,” said Jeffrey Bowen, Director of Library Programming and Public Affairs at Pepperdine University and judge of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition.
“It has been a privilege to serve as a judge for the 2024 Congressional Art Competition. It allowed me to witness firsthand the amazing talent and boundless imagination of the next generation of artists. I am grateful for the opportunity to play a role in recognizing and encouraging their artistic endeavors. Congratulations to the winner and all the participants for their outstanding achievement,” said Cristian Rivas, judge of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition.
Three honorable mentions were also recognized including “The Town of Phoenix” by Xinyu Wang from Newbury Park High School, “Home of the Roadrunners” by Erdong Chen from Westlake High School, and “2021” by Angela Liu from Westlake High School. Their artwork will be displayed in Congresswoman Brownley’s district offices in Thousand Oaks and Oxnard.
Started in 1982, the nationwide Congressional Art Competition is sponsored by the Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and is an opportunity to recognize and encourage student artistic talent across the country.
Submissions from students in grades 9-12 across the 26th Congressional District were judged by a panel of local judges who work within 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; Cristian Rivas, a local artist from Oxnard; and Soleil Busbice, a local Ventura artist.
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Issues: 118th Congress, Local Issues