Press Releases

Winning Piece to be on Display in the Hall of the U.S. Capitol

BUFFALO, NY – Congressman Tim Kennedy (NY-26) is inviting local high school students to participate in the annual Congressional Art Competition. This nationwide art competition highlights the significance of art education in our nation’s schools by showcasing the work of our country’s most gifted young artists. The competition, initiated by Congress in 1982, includes hundreds of thousands of students from across the nation.

“I'm proud to continue this more than 40-year tradition that celebrates the incredible artistic talent in our district, and I am eager to see students' interpretation of this year’s ‘Our City of Good Neighbors,’ theme,” said Congressman Kennedy. “I encourage all students to participate and look forward to displaying the winning piece in the U.S. Capitol where visitors from around the world can appreciate the exceptional creativity of Western New York's young people.”

Interested students must submit their original artwork by 5:00 pm on Friday, April 18th, 2025. Art pieces can be delivered to Congressman Kennedy’s office at 726 Exchange Street, Suite 601 in Buffalo.

Submitted artwork must be framed and can be no larger than 26 inches high, 26 inches wide, and 4 inches deep, and weigh no more than 15 lbs. Accepted mediums for the two-dimensional artwork include:

• Paintings: oil, acrylics, watercolor, etc.

• Drawings: colored pencil, pencil, ink, marker, pastels, charcoal.

  • Note: It is recommended that charcoal and pastel drawings are fixed.

• Collages: must be two-dimensional.

• Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, block prints.

• Mixed Media: use of more than two mediums such as pencil, ink, watercolor, etc.

• Computer-generated art.

  • Note: AI-generated art is not permitted.

• Photographs.

Additional guidelines and a student information and release form, which must be submitted with the artwork, are available on the Congressman’s website: https://kennedy.house.gov/services/art-competition.htm.  

All submissions will be on public display in the first-floor lobby of the Larkin at Exchange Building at 726 Exchange Street in Buffalo, New York, from April 23rd to April 25th. Beginning Wednesday, April 23rd, all submissions will be posted in a virtual gallery on Congressman Kennedy’s website where students, family members, friends, and the general public will be able to vote on their favorite pieces online until Friday, April 25th.

The grand prize-winning piece will be sent to Washington, D.C. to be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building. The winning student and a guest will also receive complimentary airline tickets from Southwest Airlines to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony with other talented High School artists from across the country at the end of June. All students will be recognized and additional prizes will be presented at an award ceremony for teachers, students, and their families in the display area on the first-floor lobby of the Larkin at Exchange Building. Date to follow. 

Students, parents, and teachers with additional questions can contact Congressman Kennedy’s Buffalo Office at 716-852-3501.

###