Tenth grader Ellen Chen won second place in the New York Congressional Art Competition. Her multi-media artwork, titled “A Twist in Grandma's Recipe,” will be framed and displayed in NY District 16 Congressman Jamaal Bowman's Washington, DC, and District congressional offices. The annual Congressional Arts Competition, which is sponsored by the Congressional Institute, recognizes and encourages artistic talent in high school students across the nation in each congressional district.

Describing her winning piece, Ellen wrote, "My artwork represents heritage that is passed down through generations and undermined by environmental issues. The fish is pieced together with an assortment of different plastic trash, which represents the pollution that diseases our oceans.” Ellen’s hope is to raise awareness and encourage action around environmental issues, which are tied to family identity.

This is Ellen’s second Congressional Arts Competition recognition. In the fall, she received a Special Recognition Award in the 2021 Congressional Arts Competition for her painting Fragile, depicting a girl rescuing piglets from rising flood waters. The painting is being displayed for one year in the office of Congressman Jim Himes.