Rep. Gabe Vasquez Invites High School Students to Enter 2026 Congressional Art Competition

Alamogordo, NM – March 15, 2026 – With just one month left until the submission deadline, Representative Gabe Vasquez (D-NM) is encouraging high school students across New Mexico’s Second Congressional District, including those in Alamogordo and surrounding areas, to participate in the 2026 Congressional Art Competition. This annual event, sponsored by the U.S. House of Representatives, celebrates the creativity and talent of young artists by showcasing their work on a national stage.

The competition’s theme for this year, “A Place Worth Imagining: New Mexico in the Future,” invites students to envision and depict the state’s potential through original artwork. It is open to all 9th through 12th-grade students who attend school in or reside within the 2nd Congressional District, which encompasses much of southern New Mexico, including Otero County and Alamogordo.

Submissions must be received via email by April 10, 2026. Students are limited to one entry each, and all artwork must be accompanied by a completed student release form. Entries should be sent to art.nm02@mail.house.gov, including a PDF image of the artwork and the release form.

Key rules for submissions include:

• Artwork must be original and not violate U.S. copyright laws—no copies of existing works will be accepted.

• Maximum dimensions: 26 inches by 26 inches, up to 4 inches deep, and weighing no more than 15 pounds (framed if selected as the winner).

• Acceptable media: Paintings (oil, acrylics, watercolor), drawings (pastels, colored pencil, etc.), collages, prints, mixed media, computer-generated art, and photography.

Physical artwork should not be mailed unless specifically instructed by staff after selection. The district winner’s piece will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol as part of a national exhibit, offering a prestigious opportunity for the chosen student.

“This competition is a fantastic way for our young artists to express their visions for New Mexico’s future and gain national recognition,” said Rep. Vasquez in the announcement. Students and educators can find full rules, the release form, and guidelines on copyright at vasquez.house.gov/services/art-competition.

For questions or more information, contact the office at 575-323-6390 or via email at art.nm02@mail.house.gov. Don’t miss this chance to have your artwork hung in the halls of Congress—submit by April 10!

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