Joliet, Ill. – The University of St. Francis and Professor of Visual Arts Michael Alamo-Costello, MFA, have announced the winners and participants of the 2026 High School Art Exhibition & Competition. Congratulations to all who competed and exhibited. The artworks were a testament to the fine art and design programs at the local high schools that were represented this year, including:
Ceramics
1st – Robert Asiamah, Joliet Catholic Academy
2nd – Sophia Chinetti, Benet Academy
3rd – Saul Barcenas- Perez, Kankakee H.S.
Drawing
1st – Leticia Reyes Torres, Joliet Central H.S.
2nd – Paige Lio, Plainfield S. H.S.
3rd – Justin Matlow, Lockport Township H.S.
Muti-Media & Sculpture
1st – Rauri O’Hara, Joliet Central H.S.
2nd – Angela Guzman, Joliet Central H.S.
3rd – Charli Mason, Reed-Custer H.S.
Painting
1st – Cadence Smorynski, Lockport Township H.S.
2nd – Stanley Zumudio, Joliet Central H.S.
3rd – Mia Cardenas, Joliet Central H.S.
Photography
1st – Elianna Gutierrez, Plainfield South H.S.
2nd – Taylor Couch, Tinley Park H.S.
3rd – Evelyn Eder, Illinois Math & Science Academy
Natalie Abbott
Plainfield South
ART IS DRAG
Deaths Head (N/A)
Ben Alessio
Joliet Catholic Academy
The Owls Tree
Robert Asiamah
Joliet Catholic Acdemy
Frog Rainchain
Max Avina
Lockport Township H.S
These Thoughts Are Temporary
Caged
Veronica Bafia
Lincoln Way West
Joy In Color
Max Ballesteros
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy
Parrot
Golden Baby
Saul Barcenas-Perez
Kankakee High School
Natural Escape
Inhale
Karina Belitz
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy
Cat Walk
Life Reflections
Brock Billingsley
Reed Custer H.S.
Killer’s Cove
Royal Flush
Layla Bonko
Lockport Township H.S
Delicate ear
Strong Commitment
Jayden Brodinski
Reed Custer H.S.
Cardinal
Playtime
Sophia Burciaga
Reed Custer H.S.
Escape
Gateway
Valyncia Burkhammer
Kankakee High School
The Pending
Moose-Hybrid
Abigail Byerley
Reed Custer H.S.
Broken and Healing
James Campos
Kankakee High School
Beauty of Death
Surreal Animal
Mia Cardenas
Joliet Central High School
Frozen
Maisie Carr
Benet Academy
Quilted Denim
Gabriella Catalan
Lincoln Way West
Dear Sunshine
Viviana Cerullo
Reed Custer H.S.
As Bright As The Sun
Surrender to Nature
Anthony Chapa
Plainfield South
Sculpture
Ehtan Charoenpitaks
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy
End of Season
Start of Fall
Eric Cheng
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy
Hands of Henry Moore
Sophia Chinetti
Benet Academy
Dansk Bibliotek
Pink Sgraffito Coil Pot
Angel Cinco
Lockport Township H.S
Tranquil Teacup
A Love For Hobbies
Jennifer Contreras-Chaca
Kankakee High School
Red Fuji
Remembrance
Taylor Couch
Tinley Park H.S
Transition
Choice
Emma Couillard
Joliet Catholic Academy
Late
Kimari Cox-Curry
Kankakee High School
Landscape
Surreal Animal
James Crews
Reed Custer H.S.
Cool Slaughter Zone
Dream
Ray Cross
Joliet Central High School
I’ll be here when you are gone
Mia Cruz
Lockport Township High School
No Independence
No One Makes Me Laugh As Much As I Make Myself Laugh
Elle Cunningham
Providence Catholic
Beyond the Border Praying Mantis
Kayla Cupp
Lincoln Way West
Coffee Cup
Backyard Swing
Amber Davis
Joliet Central High School
The Youch
Long Journey
Jaida Davis
Reed Custer H.S.
Changbin
Scrap-Cat
Caleb Dennis
Joliet Central High School
Whispers of the Past
Madelyn Diaz
Joliet Central High School
Untitled
Zoe Ebeling
Benet Academy
Denim Sea
Evelyn Eder
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy
Flower filters
Leaving Abstractions
Gianna Elizondo
Lincoln Way West
Tree of Life
Eve English
Lincoln Way West
I’m just a kid
I’m Tired
Pranav Gadde
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy
Untitled
Keira Geraci
Benet Academy
Untitled
Isabella Gintila
Benet Academy
Curious Frog
Victorian Cottage
Madelyn Gloodt
Joliet Central High School
A Cavern’s Treasure
Bowl of Bloom
Jasmin Gonzalez Guzman
Joliet Central High School
Learning to Love Myself
Olivia Gray
Lockport Township H.S
View From the Kitchen Floor
View From the Kitchen Table
Eliana Gutierrez
Plainfield South
Frame by Frame
Angela Guzman
Joliet Central High School
(Looking Glass) A self portrait of me sitting on my car
The Flower Girl
Lisette Guzman
Joliet Central High School
Coming Home
Anthony Hammack
Reed Custer H.S.
Amon Ra
Short Duel
Chloe “Bear” Hayes
Reed Custer H.S.
Among the Clouds
Consequences
Nalleli Hernandez
Kankakee High School
Day in My Life
Surreal Animal
Annalee Herrera
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy
Study of Henry Moore Lines
Olyvia Hunt
Lincoln Way East
Sweet tooth
Still life project
Ariana Jerding
Lincoln Way West
Kelpie
Kraken
Lourdes Jimenez
Joliet Central High School
Nomi
Nerd 2.0
Cade Johnson
Reed Custer H.S.
Gundam Barbatos
Monroe Jones
Lincoln Way East
Whoa!
Brain Power
Shayla Jordan
Kankakee High School
Anxiety
Hands at Work
Minha Kim
Benet Academy
When two lives Collide
Around the World
Addison Kinkin
Reed Custer H.S.
Eye to Eye
Blue Neighborhood
Madeline Kinsella
Joliet Catholic Academy
Longhorn Beetle
Isabel Koenig
Plainfield South
Just a Few Years
Ashlyn Kurczak
Lockport Township H.S
Call Ya Later
Flickering Memories
Paige Lio
Plainfield South
A self portrait of me sitting on my car
Vivian Ludwig
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy
Corinthian Capital
Stairwell Illusion
Kennedy Martinis
Benet Academy
Moon Bowl
Charli Mason
Reed Custer H.S.
Breaking Free
Justin Matlow
Lockport Township H.S
Mirror drawing
Mirror drawing
Carlos Medina-Acosta
Kankakee High School
Surreal Landscape
The Golden Pumpkin
Prisha Mittel
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy
Hello Handsome
Study
Marlee Mucha
Lincoln Way East
Standing Still
Look Closer
Marlene Munoz
Joliet Central High School
Over the Moon
Rauri O’Hara
Joliet Central High School
Waiting It Out
Under the Spotlight
Marilyn Olson
Benet Academy
A winter wonderland
Ava Onyschuk
Lincoln Way East
timeless resistance
Presence
Rileigh Pearson
Lincoln Way West
Accio!
Once upon a time
Mayle Perez
Joliet Central High School
Glass Star
Melanie Pizano
Joliet Central High School
Textured Bones
Sydney Pohlmann
Lincoln Way West
Aren’t We All Human?
The Falls
Samantha Pulido
Lincoln Way East
Gloomy Ghost
Lock & Key
Joanna Ratliff
Lincoln Way East
Dusk Alleyway
Tree Bark
Jayla Read
Coal City H.S.
Strum Your Spine
Spark
Leticia Reyes Torres
Joliet Central High School
Blooming veil
Ava Rinaldi
Benet Academy
Untitlted
Peyton Rios
Providence Catholic
memories
building and creating
Nicole Rojas
Joliet Central High School
Bone Study
Jade Rosales
Kankakee High School
My Colorful Sound
Surreal Animal
Aparna Sadhanagiri
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy
Texture Study
Molly Saller
Lincoln Way East
A Burst of Brightness
Etched
Robin Sanfilippo
Lincoln Way West
Mold
Through my eyes
Anastasia Smith
Reed Custer H.S.
Portrait Bust
Strawberry Cake
Cadence Smorynski
Lockport Township H.S
Reverie
What’s Woven Is Woven
Tayla Stallings
Joliet Central High School
Iridescent Dreams
Golden Islands
Julia Szymala
Joliet Catholic Academy
Endangered Chinchilla Lamp
Capybara Rain Chain
Diego Tirado
Joliet Central High School
Can’t Catch me Now
Holding On to you by a thread
Melissa Torres
Kankakee High School
Finding the Light in the Darkness
Finding Hope
Violet Villegas
Joliet Catholic Academy
purple adagio
Tamira Welch
Kankakee High School
Lost in a Landscape
The Scream
Savanah Williams
Lincoln Way East
Cruising the Streets
The Three Leaves
Skylar Zebell
Reed Custer H.S.
Jim and Pam
Moments Like This
Stanley Zumudio
Joliet Central High School
The Forever Deer
Silent Feast
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The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, Ill., serves more than 3,200 students worldwide and offers undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs in the arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and social work. There are over 54,000 USF alumni across the globe. For information, call 800-735-7500 or visit stfrancis.edu.
University of St. Francis: Bigger thinking. Brighter purpose.
