Eliza Leffler, an Irvington resident and graduating senior at Scecina Memorial High School, is the winner of the 2020 Congressional Art Competition for the 7th Congressional District in Central Indiana. The 7th District covers most of Indianapolis.
Her watercolor painting was being framed and shipped to Washington, D.C., where it will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol with the other winning artworks from around the United States. A reception for the winners at the Capitol has been postponed because of COVID-19.
Eliza was alerted about her honor by the Indianapolis office of 7th District U.S. Rep. Andre Carson.
“I was super-excited when I heard I won, and I immediately told everyone in my family,” said Eliza. She plans to study Art Education at Ball State University. She studied art at Scecina under teacher Paul Sinclair.
Eliza called her work “reflection,” because “my reference point was a photo of my eye that I took on my phone,” she said, “and also because the middle of the eye was inspired off a piece of plastic that was shining off a light in Mr. Sinclair’s classroom.”
Each spring, the Congressional Institute sponsors a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize and encourage artistic talent in the nation and in each congressional district. Since the Artistic Discovery competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated.
Students submit entries to their representative’s office, and panels of district artists select the winning entries. Winners are recognized both in their district and at an annual awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol.
