BRADENTON, Fla. – Congressman Vern Buchanan today announced the winners of the 2023 Congressional Art Competition, a district-wide showcase for young artists. The first-place winner of the annual competition was Skylar Goldrick of Bayshore High School. Arthur (Xiaoyi) Li of Saint Stephen’s Episcopal 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. It’s clear that students from the 16th Congressional District have an endless amount of creativity and skill,” Buchanan said. “Skylar’s art will be placed on display in the U.S. Capitol and Arthur’s art will be displayed in my Washington, D.C. office.”
This year, 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 Bennett, the Ringling Museum Manager of Design and Production.
The winning entry, Skylar’s “Welcome to my World,” will be showcased for one year in the highly traveled corridor between the U.S. Capitol and the Cannon House Office Building.
For the seventh 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. Arthur’s “Grounded Gallery,” received 85 likes and 18 shares and will be displayed in the congressman’s Washington, D.C. office for one year.
The winner of the “Facebook Fan Favorite” Award, “Grounded Gallery” by Arthur (Xiaoyi) Li.
The full list of winners from Florida’s 16th District include:
- First Place – Skylar Goldrick’s “Welcome To My World,” Bayshore High School
- Second Place – Cole Ryskamp’s “Florida Gator,” Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School and Joela Hammon’s “Celebration,” Bradenton Christian School
- Honorable Mentions – Justin Millican’s “Morning Dew,” Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School and Teagan Munce’s “A Seljandsfoss Summer,” Bradenton Christian School
- The “Facebook Fan Favorite” Award – Arthur (Xiaoyi) Li, “Grounded Gallery,” Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School
The second winners’ artwork, as well as the honorable mentions’ submissions, will remain on display in the Johnson-Blalock Education Center at the Ringling Museum for two months.
