Josiah Lyons, a junior at Lakewood High School, was awarded the top prize at U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor’s annual congressional art competition with the digital media piece, “Dream Boi Neon Night But You can See My Face.” This marks the first time a student from Lakewood High School has won Castor’s Congressional Art Competition. Josiah’s artwork will be featured for one year in the U.S. Capitol alongside other congressional art competition winners from across the country.

“The concept of my art is a dream world. I wanted to illustrate the crazy thoughts you have in your head, like a cartoon character and that is where I got the inspiration for my piece. This artwork is a photo of my head, a photo of my mind,” said Josiah about “Dream Boi Neon Night But You can See My Face.”

A photo of Josiah’s art is available here.

“The arts have always enriched our lives and served a great unifier for people and communities, and it is important now more than ever to find joy and beauty in the world around us. After the COVID19 pandemic, it is wonderful to see bright, joyful art pieces after a period of isolation. I’m inspired by the expansive talents of Tampa Bay area students and look forward to Josiah representing our community in the halls of the U.S. Capitol this year,” said Rep. Castor.  

St. Petersburg and Tampa are full of a broad range of artists and art lovers. The Arts Council partnered with the Americans for the Arts to conduct a detailed study into the economic impact of nonprofit arts and cultural organizations and their audiences in Hillsborough County. The results of the study found nonprofit arts and culture was a $433 million industry in Hillsborough County. One that supports 15,000 full-time equivalent jobs and generated more than $52 million in local and state government revenue. Add in Pinellas and it is clear that the arts are flourishing.

Photos of the students' art can be found here.

U.S. Rep. Castor’s annual Congressional Art Competition is an opportunity to celebrate the art and artists of Hillsborough and Pinellas County public and private high school students. The contest features drawings, paintings, photographs and sculptures. This year, 50 entries were submitted into the competition from high school students throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas County and displayed in the Tampa Museum of Art. The panel of judges is made up of local artists and experts from the Tampa Museum of Art and Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture and the Arts. Winners and their instructors of the other categories listed below received cash prizes along with framed art pieces and tickets to the Tampa Museum of Art. 

 

In FY23, Rep. Castor secured $1,986,353 in federal dollars for Hillsborough County Public Schools Community Arts Education Initiative. This project would develop a high-quality arts education program, in collaboration with the Tampa Museum of Art and the Straz Performing Arts Center, for students in underserved and struggling communities, enhance the student educational experience, and introduce students to potential career paths in the arts.

 

The exhibition featuring the student’s artwork will be on display at the Tampa Museum of Art through Sunday, April 16. For more information, visit their website at: www.tampamuseum.org

Award Winners

Congressional Award- Josiah Lyons, Lakewood High School, Grade 11, Dream Boi Neon Night But You can See My Face

1st Place Overall- Jordan Ritter, Academy of the Holy Names, Grade 11, Metamorphosis

2nd Place Overall- Sraddha Karthik (2022 Overall Winner), Sickles, Grade 12, Radiance

3rd Place Overall- Olivia Payne, Academy of the Holy Names, Grade 11, Portofino

Museum Choice Award- Ate’ Porter, Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs, Grade 12, You Seem Familiar to Me

Photography Award- Isabella Ancheta, Wharton, Grade 12, Red

Sculpture Award- Helena Ambrosio, Blake, Grade 12, Liegendemadchen Reborn

Water Media Art Teacher- Melissa Joseph, Gibbs

1st Place Water Media- Marcus Rideout, Gibbs, Grade 11, Ship of Theseus

Honorable Mention- Reyna Simpson, Steinbrenner, Grade 12, Clown

Honorable Mention- Johanna Kunz, Tampa Prep, Grade 12, License to Thrive

Honorable Mention- Nyoyose Varmah, Academy of the Holy Names, Grade 12, The Blueprint

Honorable Mention- Samantha Delucia, Lakewood, Grade 11, Triangle Meets a Square