47th Annual High School Student Art Competition

Saturday, January 23 – February 26, 2021 

Exhibit Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday from 1 PM – 4 PM and by private appointment. To schedule a free private viewing, please call the Art Center at 217-223-5900. The Art Center is located at 1515 Jersey St. in Quincy, IL. The Art Center is following all Restore Illinois Guidelines and Adams County Together recommendations. 

The Quincy Art Center is proud to announce the winners of the 47th Annual High School Student Art Competition. Submission for this competition was open to high school artists in grades 9th – 12th from 20 counties in the Tri-state area. A total of 102 works of art were selected from those submitted for the Art Center’s latest exhibit. The juror for the 47th Annual High School Student Art Competition is Lindsey Dunnagan, an artist and Assistant Professor of Art at Truman State University in Kirksville, MO. Dunnagan said this to those who entered, “There were so many outstanding works of art. It was very hard to select. You should feel very proud of yourself for entering. It was an honor to see your work.”

 In addition to the competition, the Art Center is also hosting the 4th Annual High School Art Teacher Exhibit. All high school visual art teachers with students who entered the high school competition were eligible to enter. The winner of the Art Teacher Award is awarded $300 to use toward their classroom to purchase art supplies, art equipment, or an art lesson brought to your classroom by the Art Center.

47th Annual High School Student Art Competition Award Winners: 

Best of Show:

Lily Scott, Sunday Afternoon

Second Place:

Evie Olivas, George “BLM”

Third Place:

Aubrey Whitehead, Hush

Merit Awards (2): 

Khloee Hinton, Highland Cow

Oscar P. Hunt, Skulldoodle

Honorable Mention (4):

Elaina Dyke, Steampunk Egg

Evie Olivas, Disconnected Heaven

Aubrey Whitehead, Within

Clayton Schenk, Untitled 

Great River Watercolor Society Awards (2):

Tegan Carrington, Facing Away 

Lily Scott, Train Views

Quincy Artist Guild Awards (3): 

Eli Putnam, Imposter

Madelyn Rashid, Bling Satisfaction

Clayton Schenk, Untitled 

Truman University Scholarship Award: 

Lily Scott, Sunday Afternoon

Truman University Recognition Awards (2): 

Evie Olivas, George “BLM” 

Oliver P. Hunt, Skulldoodle

Culver Stockton College Josh Houchins Award:

Lucas Dotson, Hesitation

Quincy University Art Supply Awards: 

Kylie Hernandez, Field Grazer

Alexis Keesey, Skull Blocks

High School Teacher Award: 

Sarah Kendrick, The Ladies of Havana

Generous Sponsorship has been provided by: 

Jerry & Virginia Holzgrafe, George & Mary Nell, Signe Oakley, Shelley Ali, Ronald and Colae Vecchie, Karl Warma, Bradford & Bonnie Billings, Martha Didriksen, Deborah Gorman,  Kent Schnack & Nora Baldner, Michael & Sharon Troup, Daryl & Linda Buechting, Susan Deege, Debra Scoggin-Myers, Gary & Sue Winking, Great River Watercolor Society, Quincy Artist Guild, Blick Art Materials, Truman University, Culver-Stockton College, and Quincy University. 

Grant support was provided by:

Tracy Family Foundation, Illinois Arts Council Agency, Gardner Denver Education Fund through the Community Foundation, Moorman Foundation, JW Gardner II Foundation, Marion Gardner Jackson Charitable Trust, The Michelmann Foundation, Quincy Noon Kiwanis, Gem City Breakfast Kiwanis, and Adams Electric Cooperative Penny Power.

47th Annual High School Student Art Competition Award Winners:

Culver-Stockton College Josh Houchins Award Presentation

A Conversation with Guest Juror Lindsey Dunnagan, Assistant Professor at Truman State University

Juror Statement:

Jurying the 47th Annual High School Student Art Exhibit was a pleasure. I was impressed with the quality of work submitted; many pieces appeared to be at a collegiate-level. Because of this, the selection process was difficult. I looked for works that were conceptually interesting and/or technically impressive. Artwork becomes interesting when it involves critical thinking and creates fresh imagery. Technical proficiency, such as color maturity, composition, correct proportions, and confidence enhance the artist’s conceptual message. Works that seemed rich in both stood out and received recognition.

If you were not selected for this show, try not to feel badly. Know that you were among excellent peers and it does not mean that your work was not good. It could mean that it just wasn’t right for this show. I hope you continue entering shows and putting your work out there. One issue that sometimes causes rejection even if a work of art is good is presentation. I did notice that there were many black mats with sticky foam pieces along the edges. Many works that were on the boundary of acceptance were ultimately not selected because of this. A professional art show becomes less prestigious if the work is displayed in a neglectful manner. Try to always frame and mat your work as cleanly as possible so it does not distract from the hard work you put into your art.

I enjoyed jurying this show and seeing the talent that area high schools are fostering. Congratulations to you all!

– Lindsey Dunnagan

Assistant Professor of Art

Truman State University, Kirksville, MO

Full Gallery: