Orange, CA – Orange Lutheran High School junior Mary Jane Pfaff from Tustin was named the winner of the Congressional Art Competition for California’s 40th District. Her artwork, “Gazing Through the Lens of Perception,” is a detailed oil paint piece that symbolizes multiple viewpoints that highlight the elusive nature of perception.
U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40) hosted a reception at the Hilbert Musuem of California Art on Friday, May 10, 2024 to honor the participants of the art competition, which is open to all high school students across CA-40. Photos courtesy of the Office of Rep. Kim are available HERE.
“I am so amazed by the creativity and skill exhibited by the 52 talented CA-40 high school artists who submitted their artwork for this year’s Congressional Art Competition,” said Rep. Young Kim. “Mary Jane’s artwork portrays the nature of perception through multiple viewpoints, and I am pleased that my colleagues in Congress and thousands of visitors from around the world will be able to view it in our nation’s U.S. Capitol building.”
The panel of judges for the competition included: Jack Knight, Artist/ Illustrator; Rosemary Vasquez Tuthill, Commissioned Artist and the daughter of Emigdio Vasquez; Katy McInnes, Director of Partnerships at Child Creativity Lab; and Britt Samuels, Owner of EyeNoMedia, Photographer and Art Curator.
The following winners from CA-40 were chosen:
1st Place: Gazing Through the Lens of Perception, by Mary Jane Pfaff, Grade 11 from Orange Lutheran High School
2nd Place: Behind the Veil by Jennifer Choi, Grade 10 from Orange Country School of the Arts
3rd Place: Through the Bubble Lens by Haylin Kim, Grade 10 from Orange County School of Arts
