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ALBANY, NY — Congressman Paul D. Tonko held a reception last week at the Opalka Gallery at Russell Sage College to announce the winners of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for New York’s 20^th congressional district. The winning artworks were chosen from among 43 student submissions representing 21 high schools across the 20^th congressional district.

“I am always inspired by the talent and creativity of the participants in our Congressional Art Competition, and this year was no exception,” Congressman Tonko said. “On Friday, I was proud to join these students in person to celebrate their creative excellence and their impressive dedication to the artistic process. Creative expression through the arts is an integral part of the learning process, allowing students to use their imaginations to bring forth their individual perspectives on the world around them. I am honored to recognize this year’s talented competitors, and I thank each and every parent, teacher, and supporter who has helped them all reach this point.”

This year’s honorees are as follows:

·         Winner — Hans Gupta, Shaker High School, “Crystalline Cobalt”

·         Runner-Up — Kaia Thompson, Shaker High School, “Frisson”

·         Honorable Mention — Katherine Lamica, Albany Academies, “Manacled”

·         Honorable Mention — Audrey Mason, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School, “Lose-Lose”

·         Honorable Mention — Sonia Snyder, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School, “It’ll be alright…”

“Congratulations to Hans on his incredible winning piece,” Tonko continued, “and congratulations to all who participated this year. Thank you all for sharing your artistry with us!”

This year’s awardees were chosen by a distinguished panel of judges from the Opalka Gallery, the Arts Center of the Capital Region, and the local arts community. The winner will be honored at a reception in Washington D.C. this fall, and his artwork will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol for the remainder of the year.

The annual Congressional Art Competition celebrates the artistic achievements of the nation’s high school students. Since the competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.

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