Warren Student Wins NJ-7 Congressional Art Competition

WARREN, NJ - A Warren student will have her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol after winning the 2026 Congressional Art Competition for New Jersey’s 7th District, Congressman Tom Kean Jr. announced Tuesday.

Kaylie Gao, a student at The Pingry School, earned first place for her acrylic painting, “Allegiance,” created as part of this year’s competition theme, “Celebrating America’s 250 Years.”

The winning artwork will hang in the Capitol for one year, and Gao will travel to Washington, D.C., in June for a national recognition ceremony honoring congressional district winners from across the country.

Gao said her painting highlights “teamwork, ambition, and national identity” through the image of an American Olympic swimming relay team celebrating a victory.

“The eagle and the flag behind the team symbolize nationalism and American pride,” Gao said in a statement.

Kean praised the student artists for bringing the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary to life through their work.

“Each year, the Congressional Art Competition highlights the next generation of artists,” Kean said. “Our district’s winners brought the spirit of our nation’s 250th anniversary to life through their artwork, and I am proud to help showcase their talent on a national stage.”

Two additional students were recognized as runners-up in the competition.

Vivien Xu of Westfield, a student at Westfield High School, earned recognition for her acrylic painting “Our Worker,” while Mia Li of Warren, a student at Newark Academy, was honored for her pen-and-colored-pencil piece “American Spirit.”

Their artwork will be displayed on a rotating basis in Kean’s New Jersey and Washington congressional offices throughout the year.

Several other students from across the district received honorable mentions, including students from Bridgewater, Warren, Mendham, Branchburg and Hackettstown.

Winners were selected by a panel of professional judges based on artistic skill, originality, design and visual appeal.

This year’s judges included Colleen Furnari, an art teacher at the Midland School in Branchburg and graduate of Rutgers University’s Mason Gross School of the Arts, and Catherine Benton, a high school art educator and Warren County chair for the Art Educators of New Jersey.

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