Bernards Student Wins National Honor For Painting Of Dim Sum With Grandfather

BERNARDSVILLE, NJ — A Bernards High School freshman has earned two of the country's most competitive honors in teen art for a painting celebrating his Chinese heritage and his relationship with his grandfather.

Sean Chen received a Gold Medal and the Flaunt It Award from the 2026 National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards for his painting "Love Language: Dim Sum." The competition, which has run since 1923, is considered the nation's most prestigious teen art competition.

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This year, more than 110,000 students submitted over 335,000 works; fewer than 1 percent earned a Gold Medal.

The Flaunt It Award carries an even steeper distinction — it is given to just two students nationally each year, one in art and one in writing, recognizing teens who share stories about what makes them different.

Chen's painting depicts himself and his grandfather sharing a traditional dim sum meal, evoking nostalgia, cultural pride, and family connection.

"As an artist, I believe the paintbrush is a powerful tool of expression, giving form and color to the emotions that words alone cannot frame," Chen said.

Now enrolled in Art III Honors as a freshman, Chen is on track to take AP 2-D Art and Design in the fall. His teacher, BHS art instructor Gillian Crisman, said his placement at that level is itself unusual.

"It's honestly pretty rare to see a freshman come in already at an Art 3 level, but Sean is just on another level," Crisman said. "I'm constantly in awe of how he thinks, creates and communicates through his art."

Chen will be honored at the Somerset Hills Board of Education meeting on May 20.

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