Hermitage High School student wins Congressional Art Competition

The student artist behind the winning entry in U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger’s  Congressional Art Competition said he drew inspiration for his piece from the simultaneous crises over the past year.

“I wanted to tell a story,” Malik Kabani said. “The riots, social distancing and COVID; all of that. I really wanted to evoke that in my design and express that through the paper.”

The winning piece, titled “Reality Through Mixed Media,” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for a year alongside winning pieces from congressional districts across the country.

Kabani, 17, will graduate from Hermitage High School on Thursday. He spent his senior year of high school learning from home.

“This past year left many in our communities grappling with a lack of connectedness. Through their work, students in the Seventh District have proven how valuable of an outlet art can be for self-expression and engaging with what is happening in our lives,” Spanberger said in a statement. “I look forward to showcasing Malik’s piece in the U.S. Capitol alongside the works of talented young people from across the country.”

After graduation, Kabani plans to continue his design work and pursue a career in art.

The second-place winner was Quyen Nguyen from Clover Hill High School in Chesterfield County, and third-place winner was Ace Atkinson, also from Clover Hill High School.

* * *

Anna Bryson is the Henrico Citizen's education reporter and a Report for America corps member. Make a tax-deductible donation to support her work, and RFA will match it dollar for dollar.