McClellan Announces 2025 Congressional Art Competition Winners

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. The first place winner for Virginia's Fourth is Journi Marlow with her acrylic painting, In Our Hands. Journi is an eleventh grader who attends Henrico High School. Her art has been featured in live interviews and community exhibitions, and she has served as a youth panelist speaking on the power of art for personal and collective change. Her work will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol later this year.

"I'm thrilled to congratulate Journi on her winning acrylic submission to this year's Congressional Art Competition! Her piece is a beautiful representation of the American justice system, its fragility, and the promise held by the American people to uphold it," said Congresswoman McClellan. "It is an honor to host this art competition and provide an opportunity for students across the district to showcase their work. Thank you to all the young artists who participated and shared your artistic vision with us. I can't wait to see what you all do next in pursuing your love of art."

Congresswoman McClellan also announced the following finalists:

• Olivia Price, a tenth grader from Hermitage High School, took second place with her pencil and acrylic drawing, New Form of Life.
• Chloe Stamper, a tenth grader from Brunswick High School, took third place with her acrylic painting, Journey for Water.

Below is a full list of submissions for this year and honorable mentions in each category.

Overall Congressional Art Competition Winners:

• 1st Place: In Our Hands/ Journi Marlow of Henrico High School
• 2nd Place: New Form of Life/ Olivia Price of Hermitage High School
• 3rd Place: Journey for Water/ Chloe Stampher of Brunswick High School

Digital Art:

• 1st Place: Like a Moth to a Flame/ Lina Lloyd of Petersburg High School
• 2nd Place: Sandman's Sheep Prowl the Night/ Carra Wynn of Petersburg High School

Photography:

• 1st Place: Reality TV/ Lily Frantz Laferriere of Clover Hill High School
• 2nd Place: Place- Spring in Town/ Dayanara Gonzalez-Hernandez of Petersburg High School

Mixed Media:

• 1st Place: Green and Gentle Waterway / Minhan Zhao of Clover Hill High School
• 2nd Place: The Fire in My Eyes/ Elizabeth Smith-Branzella of Petersburg High School
• 3rd Place: Maristella/ Navaeh Edwards of Petersburg High School

Drawings:

• 1st Place: New Form of Life/ Olivia Price of Hermitage High School
• 2nd Place: Dining Dolls/ Gabrielle Williams of Thomas Dale High School
• 3rd Place: A Hap of Laughter: The Memory of Papa Hay / Hazel Grace Bittenbender of Colonial Heights High School
• 4th Place: Colored Over, Still Me/ Grace Miao-Xuan Zheng of Maggie Walker Governor's School
• Honorable Mention: Backyard Chase/ Jeremiah Adkins of Varina High School
• Honorable Mention: Under Freedom's Wing/ Cadence Penelope Martin of Colonial Heights High School

Paintings:

• 1st Place: In Our Hands/ Journi Marlow of Henrico High School
• 2nd Place: Journey for Water/ Chloe Stamper of Brunswick High School
• 3rd Place: Pride/ Lindsey Keatley of Thomas Dale High School
• Honorable Mention: Wally's Red Moon/ Jeilyn Munoz of Hopewell High School
• Honorable Mention: Salvation Mountain/ Juliet Chanelle Torres of Colonial Heights High School
• Honorable Mention: Look of Love/ Mia Salinas Santiago of Petersburg High School

The judging panel consisted of the following people: Sara Johnson Ward, S. Ross Browne, Taekia Glass, and Allie Sarinana.

You can view all of the winning submissions and honorable mentions here.