ROCHESTER, MN – Congressman Brad Finstad (MN-01) today invited high school students from Minnesota’s First Congressional District to participate in the 2025 Congressional Art Competition.

Since 1982, Congress has hosted a nationwide annual art competition that allows high school students from all fifty states to showcase their artistic talent. The contest is open to all high school students (9th – 12th grade) in Minnesota’s First District. The winning piece will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol, and other winners’ artwork will be displayed in Congressman Finstad’s district office.

“Every year, I look forward to seeing the talent and creativity in the pieces submitted by southern Minnesota students for the Congressional Art Competition,” said Rep. Finstad. “The winning artwork from my district will be displayed in our beautiful U.S. Capitol Building, seen by hundreds of people every day. When visitors come to my D.C. office, I take immense pride in showing them the impressive artwork from the talented high school students we have right here in the First District.”

All submitted artwork must be original in concept, design, and execution. Submissions, including the entry form, may be mailed or hand-delivered to the Rochester office at 2746 Superior Drive NW, Suite 100, Rochester, MN 55901, or the New Ulm office at 110 N. Minnesota St., Suite 5, New Ulm, MN 56073 by 5:00PM CT on Friday, April 25^th.

Further information about the program, including official rules, guidelines, and student release forms for the 2025 competition can be found on Congressman Finstad’s website or by calling the Rochester office at (507) 577-6140. 

The first-place winner of last year’s First District Congressional Art Competition was Dean Wang from Century High School in Rochester, for his piece, “Shades of Winter”.

Artist’s Description: “Minnesota is renowned for its picturesque winters, and Southeast MN exemplifies this. Often, our winters are underappreciated. "Shades of Winter" is an oil painting capturing the serene beauty of our winters. Contrasting the cool tones of the snow, the golden sunset represents the warmth that radiates throughout winter: a magical season that unites communities. A stream flows through, melting the hues together and adding to the enchanting atmosphere. Winters unify us and create fond memories.”