WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) announced Isabella Graham as the winner of the 2022 Congressional Art Competition for Ohio’s 14th Congressional District. Graham, who is a junior at Mentor High School, won with her submission Trapped In My Skin. Her artwork will be placed on display in the U.S. Capitol for an entire year. 

The competition’s honorable mentions include:

• 2^nd Place: Teresa Morek, Mentor High School. Her submission Hungry for the Past will be displayed in the Congressman’s Washington, D.C. office for a year.
• 3^rd Place: Devon Ambrus, Mentor High School. His artwork Intent will be on display in one of the Congressman’s District offices for a year.
• 4^th Place: Teresa Morek, Mentor High School. Her piece titled Coke Addiction will be displayed in one of the Congressman’s District offices for a year.

“Every year, the Congressional Art Competition gives Northeast Ohio’s students the chance to show how artistically gifted they are,” said Congressman Joyce. “There was immense talent displayed by the record-breaking number of submissions my office received this year. It’s impossible not to be inspired by how skilled our local high school students are. Congratulations to Isabella, as well as to Teresa and Devon. I look forward to seeing your incredible artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol, my Washington office, and my offices here in Northeast Ohio.”

“This past year has been one where I pushed my imagination to the limit, and I utilized it to create the most unrealistic and realistic pieces in my portfolio thus far,” said Isabella Graham. “I am extremely happy with all of the art to come out of this past year, the emotions and moments I was able to capture. Winning the Congressional Art Competition for my district has really helped me see where my art is going to take me throughout life, this being by far one of my most exciting achievements, however not my last.”

“Isabella has an imagination that explodes in every piece she creates,” said Edith Mellen, CTE Studio Art/Visual Design Instructor at Euclid High School, which is a part of the Lake Shore Compact. “I love the way she thinks! Isabella’s work is exciting to look at and to visually explore.”

“We are extremely proud of Isabella and her accomplishments,” said Dr. Joe Glavan, Director of the Lake Shore Compact. “Isabella has taken full advantage of the many opportunities available to our students and is enrolled in both our two year Career Technical Education program, Studio Arts and Visual Communications at Euclid High School, as well our Fine Arts 3 at Mentor High School. We appreciate Congressman Joyce’s willingness to help showcase students’ artwork and the great things happening in the Ohio 14th Congressional District!”

The Congressional Art Competition, which began in 1982, is an annual contest run by the U.S. House of Representatives where high school students from across the country are invited to showcase their artistic abilities. This year’s winners were selected from a record-breaking 164 applicants from eight high schools: Mayfield High School, Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School, Andrew Osborne Academy, Gilmour Academy, Mentor High School, Painesville Harvey High School, Berkshire High School, and Bloomfield Mespo Local Schools.

In keeping with a tradition he started in 2016, Joyce will also be holding a ‘People’s Choice Award’ on his Facebook page, where constituents can vote for their favorite artwork. The student who receives the most votes for the People’s Choice Award will also get to have their artwork on display in one of Joyce’s District offices for one year.

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