A student from Francis Lewis High School in New York has earned national recognition after winning the annual Congressional District Art Contest organized by U.S. Representative Grace Meng. As part of the achievement, the student’s artwork will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., for the next year.
The winner, Cher Shu Yi Li, an incoming senior from Fresh Meadows, secured first place in the competition with an acrylic painting titled *Night Meal in Flushing*. The artwork portrays people dining inside a Chinese restaurant, reflecting the role of culture in everyday life.
The contest, held each year across congressional districts in the United States, invites middle and high school students to submit original artwork. This year’s competition in New York’s Sixth Congressional District received dozens of entries, with winners selected by a panel of local artists and art educators.
Following the announcement, Li traveled to Washington to attend a recognition ceremony, where the winning artworks from congressional districts across the country were unveiled and installed inside the U.S. Capitol. The painting will remain on display for one year as part of the national student art exhibition.
Reacting to the recognition, Li expressed gratitude to her family, teachers and friends for their encouragement, describing the opportunity to see her artwork displayed at the Capitol as a memorable experience.
Representative Grace Meng congratulated the student on the achievement, saying the competition highlights the creativity and artistic talent of young people while providing them with national exposure. She also thanked all students who participated, noting that the annual contest continues to celebrate emerging artists from across Queens.
The Congressional Art Competition, launched in 1982, has provided hundreds of thousands of students nationwide with an opportunity to showcase their artistic work at the U.S. Capitol.
