Congressman Kean honors winners of 2026 Congressional Art Competition in New Jersey’s 7th District
WARREN TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Somerset County) — Congressman Tom Kean Jr. recognized the winners of the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District during an awards ceremony Tuesday evening.
This year’s competition challenged students to create artwork inspired by the theme, “Celebrating America’s 250 Years.”
“Each year, I am inspired by the extraordinary creativity and talent of the young artists in our community,” said Congressman Kean. “Through this year’s theme, ‘Celebrating America’s 250 Years,’ these students brought our nation’s history to life in thoughtful, original, and deeply personal ways. Their work reflects both the pride we share in America’s past and the promise of its future. Congratulations to Kaylie and all of this year’s outstanding winners!”
Kaylie Gao of Warren won the competition with her painting, “Allegiance.” Her artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year alongside winning entries from congressional districts across the country.
Reflecting on her inspiration, Gao said, “As a former swimmer of over a decade, I wanted to use my passion and experience in swimming to demonstrate the importance of unity, sportsmanship, and patriotism.”
She added, “In my painting, I referenced the Women’s Team USA win at the 2016 Olympics in the 400 meter freestyle relay, where the athletes showed strong courage and care for their teammates that ultimately earned them a gold medal. The rippling American flag and mid-flight bald eagle symbolize allegiance, the title of the piece, and team spirit.”
Two students were named runners-up: Mia Li of Warren for “American Spirit” and Vivien Xu of Westfield for “Our Worker.” Their artwork will be displayed on a rotating basis in Kean’s Washington, D.C., and district offices.
Five students received honorable mentions:
- Thanushri Krishnakumar of Bridgewater for “United we soar – a 250-year journey”
- Sophia Liu of Branchburg for “Fleeting Youth”
- Evelyn Ouyang of Warren for “From Roots to Future”
- Julia Sun of Mendham for “Columbia Meets Her Successor”
- Nathan Veillard of Hackettstown for “Stars, Stripes and Stories”
The competition was judged by Catherine Benton and Colleen Furnari, both New Jersey art educators. Furnari, who attended the recognition event, praised the quality and creativity of the submissions.
“It truly was an honor to judge the Congressional Art Contest. It was a challenging task narrowing down the many entries deserving of acknowledgment. The varied and thoughtful interpretations of the theme ‘Celebrating America’s 250 Years’ reveal that young people in our community have a broad awareness of history and good intentions for the future. Seeing their artistic talent celebrated by their families, nurtured by their teachers, and honored in this way was a feel-good overall,” Furnari said.
The Congressional Art Competition is an annual nationwide program that gives high school students the opportunity to showcase their artistic talent, with first-place winners earning the opportunity to have their artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year.
To view the winning artwork, click here.
