RECAP: MAYOR MATTIE PARKER HIGH SCHOOL ART COMPETITION 2026

• 324 Entries Across DFW

• 25 Students Selected in the Exhibition

• 15 participating schools

We are very pleased with the turnout of our Tenth Annual Mayor Mattie Parker High School Art Competition. Big thanks to our students, teachers, parents, friends, and supporters for continuing to make this one of our favorite events to date!

And a Big Congratulations to All of Our Winners!

1st Place: Lana Mackie, 10th grade, R.L. Paschal High School

2nd Place: Chloe Swinford, 12th grade, Amon G. Carter Riverside High School

3rd Place: Maddilyn Wilkinson, 10th grade, Brewer High School

First Honorable Mention: Chloe Lindsey, 11th grade, John Paul II High School

Second Honorable Mention: Brayden Markham, 12th grade, Argyle High School

TAFA 2025 Summer Teen Workshop Scholarship Winner: Chloe Lindsey, 11th grade, John Paul II High School

Mayoral High School Art Competition

Fort Works Art and Gallery of Dreams have proudly collaborated with the offices of the Mayor since 2014. This esteemed annual art exhibition presents an exceptional opportunity for high school students residing within a 30-mile radius of Fort Worth. Tailored to elevate young artists, the competition has been meticulously designed to serve as a valuable asset to their curriculum vitae, promising long-term significance in their burgeoning careers.

Each applicant's artwork undergoes careful evaluation and curation by a prominent museum curator or director, often in conjunction with an acclaimed artist. Participation in this process marks the initiation of their museum experience. Moreover, accepted artists are granted the opportunity to showcase their work in a prestigious white-wall art gallery for a two-week public exhibition, free of charge.

The culmination of this enriching experience is celebrated with a reception attended by the juror, mayor, and gallery director, offering students, their teachers, and families the chance to interact, pose for photographs, and engage in insightful discussions. The invaluable exposure and insight gained from this immersion in the art world serve as a solid foundation for those who aspire to pursue a career in the arts beyond high school.

Furthermore, the competition awards cash prizes to the first, second, and third place winners, along with scholarships, and includes remarks from the mayor. Notably, the artwork of the first-place winner is displayed outside the mayor's office for a duration of one year, signifying their remarkable achievement.

Distinguished past jurors include curators from the Modern Art Museum such as Andrea Karnes, Alison Hearst, and Clare Milliken, and Director of the Kimbell Art Museum, Dr. Eric Lee, as well as Andrew Walker, Director of the Amon Carter Museum of American Art, and curators Maggie Adler and Spencer Wigmore. Renowned artists such as Sedrick Huckaby, Letitia Huckaby, and Benito Huerta have also served as esteemed jurors in previous editions of the competition.

NEED HELP APPLYING NEXT YEAR?
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If you require additional information, please email info@galleryofdreams.org.