Rep. Pete Aguilar announced that Joel Martinez is the winner of this year’s Congressional Art Competition for California’s 31^st Congressional District. A sophomore at Wilmer Amina Carter High School in Rialto, Joel’s painting, entitled 03, was chosen by Rep. Aguilar and a panel of judges as the winner out of more than 60 submissions from area high school students. In addition to having his work displayed in the US Capitol for the next year, Joel and his family will have the opportunity to travel to Washington, DC to meet with Rep. Aguilar and winners from other Congressional Districts courtesy of Southwest Airlines. The winner was announced at the 2019 Art Competition reception hosted by Rep. Aguilar at the San Bernardino County Museum.

“The art competition is always a reminder of the incredible amount of talent we have in the Inland Empire. I was impressed by every submission, and am so proud to have a chance to represent our community by displaying a piece of art from CA-31 in the Capitol building,” said Rep. Aguilar.

Winning artist Joel Martinez commented, “It means a lot not only to have won, but to have been able to participate in a competition that gives every student a chance to display their art in Washington, DC, and that continues to encourage the youth to express themselves through art.”

Rialto High School student Allison Mata earned a second-place finish for her painting, Siren, which will be displayed in Rep. Aguilar’s DC office. Christina Zhao of the Grove School in Redlands came in third for her piece, Woody, which will be displayed in Rep. Aguilar’s San Bernardino office.