SARASOTA, Fla. – Congressman Vern Buchanan today announced the winners of the 2022 Congressional Art Competition, a showcase of young artists representing every congressional district across the country.
The first-place winner of the annual competition from Florida’s 16th Congressional District was Afnan Hammani of Sarasota High School. YaRu Cao of Pine View School was this year’s “Facebook Fan Favorite” winner
“I’m impressed by the exceptional talent of every high schooler who submitted artwork for this year’s competition,” Buchanan said. “It’s clear that students from the 16th Congressional District have an endless amount of creativity and skill.”
This year, 38 students from the 16th District submitted entries for the competition judged by the following at the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art: Sarah Cartwright, The Ringling Museum Ulla R. Searing Curator of Collections; Ola Wlusek, the Keith D. and Linda L. Monda Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art; and Libby Bennette, the Ringling Museum Manager of Design and Production.
The winning entry, Afnan’s “Underwater,” will be showcased for one year in the highly traveled corridor between the U.S. Capitol and the Cannon House Office Building.
For the sixth year, the 16th Congressional District’s contest included a separate recognition – the “Facebook Fan Favorite” Award – awarded to the student whose artwork won the highest number of likes and shares combined on the Congressman’s Facebook page. YaRu’s “Following Libery” will be displayed in the congressman’s Washington, D.C. office for one year.
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The full list of winners from Florida’s 16th District include:
- First Place – Afnan Hammani’s “Underwater,” Sarasota High School
- Second Place – Anna Lazzara’s “Magic Number,” Sarasota High School
- Third Place – Ashlyn Kuiken’s “Golden Girl,” Sarasota High School
- Honorable Mention – Domenico Porpora’s “Naruta Konaha Village,” The Classical Academy of Sarasota
- The “Facebook Fan Favorite” Award – YaRu Cao’s “Following Liberty,” Pine View School
All artwork submissions will remain on display in the Johnson-Blalock Education Center at the Ringling Museum throughout the summer.
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