Young Artist Wins District Art Contest with Ghostly Portraits

Gateway High School’s 17‑year‑old artist turns a quiet community center into a canvas of hope and uncertainty.

A 17‑year‑old from Gateway High School entered a district art contest to honor her Peruvian roots. She had planned to work at a local Hispanic community center, but the space was almost empty—staff feared that any visit might attract immigration officials. With the first floor shut down, only a handful of employees remained.

The emptiness sparked an idea: paint figures that resemble faint ghosts. Using bright, translucent colors, she made them appear as if they might or might not be there—vibrant yet tinged with uncertainty. Judges selected her piece as a winner, though the student was initially unhappy with some aspects. An accidental smudge led her to add more light, giving the canvas a dreamlike feel that friends appreciated. She then added the ghostly figures.

The artwork, titled “A lo cuesta de injusticia” (roughly “The Cost of Injustice”), marks a departure from her usual portraits and reflects the emotional turmoil she experienced during its creation.

The contest is part of a national program run by members of the U.S. House and the Congressional Institute, held each spring to recognize high‑school creativity. The winning piece will hang in a tunnel between the Capitol and House buildings for one year, and the artist received tickets to Washington, D.C. for a winner’s reception.

The student said drawing helps her express feelings she struggles to put into words. The artwork invites viewers to consider how fear and hope coexist in communities facing uncertainty.