Press Releases

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA) today announced that Kaya Vickers, a junior at Washington-Liberty High School, won the 2024 Congressional Art Competition in Virginia’s 8th District with “Museum Portal,” an acrylic painting on a square canvas (high resolution version here).  “Museum Portal” was selected from dozens of works by Northern Virginia student artists.

Vickers wrote that “Museum Portal,” a one-point perspective acrylic painting, depicts “one's experience in a museum.” The piece will hang in the Capitol along with other winners of the Congressional Art Competition from across the country.

“Kaya Vickers’ ‘Museum Portal’ utilizes a one-point perspective to draw the viewer's gaze into the serene museum space, evoking connection between the observer and the art,” said Beyer. “Once hung in the Capitol, I believe this painting will evoke strong introspection for visitors as they reflect on their own experiences and emotions with art. I extend my warmest congratulations to Kaya and the other amazing young artists who competed in the Congressional Art Competition.”

Previous winners of the Congressional Art Competition include 2023 winner August Moon from the St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School, 2022 winner William Zhang from Thomas Jefferson HSST and 2021 winner Charlie Williams from Wakefield High School.