Skip to main content

Bonamici Announces Beaverton Student Won Congressional Art Competition

May 7, 2021

WASHINGTON, DC [05/07/2021] Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) announced that Clara Johnson, a senior at Beaverton High School, won the 2021 Congressional Art Competition for Oregon's First Congressional District. Her piece is titled "Xenophobia."

"The artwork submitted to the Congressional Art Competition each year is breathtaking and thought-provoking," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "This year was no different. Congratulations to Clara Johnson for winning the competition, and thank you to every student who participated. I see a bright future for Oregon's youth, and that future is on display with this piece."

This year's panel of judges from Northwest Oregon were professional artists April Xu, Jo Reimer, and Patrice Cameron. They described Johnson's work as "a great mixture of contemporary and traditional techniques." Johnson received an honorable mention for the competition in 2019.

Two other students were awarded honorable mentions: Diane Choi and River Rain, both seniors at Beaverton High School.

Johnson's piece will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building for the next year. She and other student participants joined a virtual celebration with the Congresswoman. A photo of the artwork can be viewed here. One of the honorable mention pieces will be displayed in the Congresswoman's Oregon office and one in her Washington, D.C. office.

Bonamici has long been a champion of the arts and arts education. She is the founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional STEAM Caucus, which advocates for the integration of the arts with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education.