Francis Lewis High School junior Cher Shu Yi Li will have her artwork displayed on the walls of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., for the next year after winning U.S. Rep. Grace Meng’s annual Sixth Congressional District Art Contest.

The district-level competition, which receives entries from middle- and high school students in Queens, is part of the national “An Artistic Discovery” art contest held by the House of Representatives, which showcases the artwork of students in congressional districts all across the United States.

This year, there were a total of 58 submissions entered into Meng’s contest.

“I’m honored to win this competition and have my artwork recognized in this amazing way,” Li said. “Thank you to Rep. Meng for this opportunity and thank you to my family, friends and art teacher for the support they’ve given me, especially as I decided to enter the contest. Going to Washington for the ceremonies and seeing my winning painting displayed was a tremendous experience and I am excited that it will continue to hang in the United States Capitol.”

Li, who lives in Auburndale, traveled to the U.S. Capitol last week to attend a ceremony that celebrated her winning piece, entitled “Night Meal in Flushing,” along with all the winning artwork from other congressional districts throughout the nation. She then watched her artwork officially be hung on the walls.

Her acrylic artwork depicts people sitting inside a Chinese restaurant, which Li said represents the ways in which culture is part of life’s everyday routines.

Cher Shu Yi Li’s artwork titled “Night Meal in Flushing” will be displayed on the walls of the U.S. Capitol for the next year. Photo courtesy of the Office of U.S. Rep. Grace Meng

Meng’s office said Li has “exceptional” artistic abilities and applauded the artistic talents of other congressional art contest winners.

“I was thrilled to welcome Cher Shu Yi Li to the nation’s capital and honor her for winning this very competitive competition,” Meng said. “I’m proud to recognize her outstanding talent and I congratulate her for winning this year’s contest. Seeing her artwork displayed on Capitol Hill for a whole year will be very exciting for our borough and I look forward to thousands of people walking through the Capitol seeing it as well.”

Meng noted that the contest received many creative and inspiring submissions and thanked all the local students who entered. 

“The contest serves as a celebration of young artists and a platform for area students to highlight their artistic skills,” she continued. “I am proud to have once again hosted it here in Queens.”

Meng first announced Li as the winner of this year’s competition in her district during a May reception that invited students’ families, art teachers and school staff to the Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. 

Several runners-up were also announced and received special Certificates of Congressional Recognition.

Runners-up include second-place winner Seungran (Ellie) Lim, a student from St. Francis Preparatory High School in Fresh Meadows, and third-place winner Jhustin Ramirez-Vasquez, a student from Hillside Arts and Letters Academy in Jamaica.

Winners were selected by panel of local artists and art educators consisting of Faustino Quintanilla, executive director of the Queensborough Community College Art Gallery; Maria Cristina Pio, co-director of the Godwin-Ternbach Museum at Queens College; Julia del Palacio, executive director of Queens Theatre located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park; and Joseph Adolphe, art professor at St. John’s University.            

The Artistic Discovery competition was launched in 1982 for members of Congress to showcase the artistic work of students from around the nation. Since it began, hundreds of thousands of students from throughout the U.S. have participated in the contest.