Organ Mountain High School sophomore wins congressional art competition

Troy Ainsworth’s painting will hang in the U.S. Capitol for a year

Organ Mountain News report

LAS CRUCES - U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez announced Thursday that Troy Ainsworth, a 10th grader at Organ Mountain High School, is the 2025 winner of the Congressional Art Competition for New Mexico’s 2nd District.

Ainsworth’s piece, titled Age-old Rivals, was selected from dozens of entries submitted by high school students across the district. His artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol for one year alongside winning entries from across the country.

“Troy’s artwork is a powerful display of talent, creativity and storytelling,” Vasquez said. “It’s an honor to have a student from southern New Mexico represent our district at the U.S. Capitol. His piece will inspire countless visitors as they walk the halls of Congress.”

In addition to having his art displayed, Ainsworth will be invited to Washington, D.C., this summer for a national reception honoring student artists.

The annual Congressional Art Competition was established in 1982 to celebrate student artists and highlight the importance of arts education. This year’s submissions reflected the diverse cultures, landscapes and communities of southern New Mexico.

A video of the award presentation is available here.