Rep. Chu Announces Winners of the 15th Annual Artistic Discovery Congressional Art Competition

1st Place: Tiffany To, Mark Keppel High School: Year of the Rabbit 2023.

Tiffany To’s winning artwork honors the memory of the 11 victims at Star Dance Studio.

By News Desk

Yesterday, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) announced the winners of her 15th annual Artistic Discovery Competition, with Tiffany To of Mark Keppel High School earning top honors for her work, Year of the Rabbit 2023.

The nationwide Congressional Art Competition, now in its 43rd year, is sponsored by Members of Congress to promote and recognize the artistic achievements of high school students. Winners are selected by a committee of judges that consider style, technique, originality, and creativity. The winning work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol building for a year with other winning pieces from around the country, while other selections will be hung in Rep. Chu’s Washington, D.C., and district offices.

All the winners will receive scholarships.

“The young artists we highlight in Congress’s Annual Artistic Discovery Competition, including ones here in the San Gabriel Valley, have all reached into their creative souls to make something new and authentic for the world, using art to tackle societal problems, portray complex emotions, and inspire us all to pursue a better version of ourselves,” said Rep. Chu. “I am particularly pleased to uplift our winner Tiffany To, whose work, Year of the Rabbit 2023, honored the memory of the 11 members of our community we lost last year when a gunman targeted Star Dance Studio on the eve of Lunar New Year. She beautifully conveyed their happiness, hope, and love of life and dance. Displaying her work in the Capitol will remind Members of Congress and Americans visiting Washington of the humanity of victims of gun violence and the need for gun safety legislation that’ll save lives and protect our cultural celebrations from wanton violence.”

This year’s winners and their artworks include:

2nd Place: Hee Joon Lee, South Pasadena High School: Our Mourning Portrait. 3rd Place: Jocelyn Alvarez, Mark Keppel High School: Revisiting Memories. 4th Place: Seoyoon Kim, Maranatha High School: King Midas and the Worthless Touch. 5th Place: Mia Lai, Alhambra High School: Pulled Apart.

Honorable Mentions: Allison Wei, Temple City High School: Fishing. Sophia Atencio, South Pasadena High School: No Sabo. Emma DeWees, Claremont High School: On Strike. Ava Martin, Crescenta Valley High School: My Ultimate Finish. Faye Haslett, John Muir High School: Up and Down.