Museum of the Gulf Coast
Annual Art and Photography Contest
The 2025 and 2024 Art Contests were a great success! Results of the previous contests are below.
Entries for the 2026 Art Contest can be submitted between January 6th - 26th, 2026.
The Museum of the Gulf Coast invites artists and photographers of all ages to enter its annual community art contest. Participants 18 and under may submit one free entry in both art and photography, while adults may enter up to two pieces per category at $15 each. Categories range from sixth grade to adult, including professional and nonprofessional divisions, with all proceeds funding cash prizes. Entries are accepted in January, followed by a February reception, and the exhibition runs through April in the Dunn Gallery. Rules and entry forms for the next contest are posted online each year.
RESULTS of the 2025 Tenth Annual Art and Photography Contest:
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Youth Art:
Honorable Mention: Ricki Lyn Rackenschuh and Samuel Dunn
3rd Place: for Untitled, Rafi Latiolais
2nd Place: for Games, Domino Sutton
1st Place: for Beach Landscape, Kenleigh Harris
Teen Art:
Honorable Mention: Timmy Schreck, Ella Owens, Elizabeth Carrillo, Luke Douglas, Scarlett Patxot, & Alejandro Ramirez
6th Place: Panda, Madisyn Block
5th Place: Hand of Moses, Baylor Dillon
4th Place: Buttons, Phoebe Patton
3rd Place: Trick or Treat, Brooklyn McMaster
2nd Place: Mark Edelstein, Elizaveta Gorokhova
1st Place: Vanitas, Harley Babb
Student Photography:
Honorable Mention: Melanie Hilario, Haydee Castillo
3rd Place: Reaching the Oasis, Payton Bryan
2nd Place: Timeless Tulips at the Market, Aaliyah Elizondo
1st Place: Brown Beauty, Elizabeth Carrillo
Adult Photography:
Honorable Mention: Jerry Connally, Shari Stark, Mike Cacioppo
3rd Place: Cattail Marsh at Sunrise, Lori Spaid
2nd Place: Cruising, Jerry Connally
1st Place: Busy Bee, Rosemary Mathis
Non-Professional Art:
3rd Place: Summer, Grace Mathis
2nd Place: Remember You Are One, Maria Chinn
1st Place: Blue Carnations, Ashley McNeil
Professional Art:
Honorable Mention: Thomas Veillon, Michelle MacMahan, William Ray, Enjoli Bush
3rd Place: Piece of My Heart, Ines Alvidres
2nd Place: Let Me Take You Down, Mike Cicioppo
1st Place: Kanchanphon #1 – 2025, Johnny Charles Milich
The Rauschenberg Award for the best entry inspired by Port Arthur artist Robert Rauschenberg goes to Grace Mathis for her piece entitled Summer.
Harley Babb - 1st Place, Teen Art
Ashley McNeil - 1st Place, Nonprofessional
Ines Alvidres - 3rd Place, Professional
J.C. Milich - 1st Place, Professional
Enjoli Bush - Honorable Mention, Professional
Jerry Connally - 2nd Place, Photography
Lori Spaid - 3rd Place, Photography
The Museum of the Gulf Coast proudly announced the winners of its 10th Annual Art and Photography Contest. The opening reception, held February 13 in the Dunn Gallery, drew over 100 artists, families, and guests. Last year’s contest celebrated the 100th birthday of Port Arthur artist Robert Rauschenberg, inspiring a special category won by Grace Mathis, who received a museum-held poster originally donated by the artist.
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Categories included Professional Art, Nonprofessional Art, Photography, Youth Art (grades 6–8), Teen Art (grades 9–12), and Student Photography. Curator Robert Fong noted that each young attendee received a memento from the Rauschenberg Foundation, with a limited number still available in the gift shop. Medals, certificates, and more than $1,000 in prizes were awarded. The exhibition runs through April 13, and entries for next year’s contest open January 1st, with a deadline of January 26th.
RESULTS of the Ninth Annual Art and Photography Contest in 2024
​Youth Art:
1st Isabel Tindall, 2nd Celia Alvarado, 3rd Katie Migues, 4th Melany Hernandez, 5th Eloise Bromley, 6th Melanie Barragan
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Teen Art:
1st Ashley McNeill, 2nd Madison Gutierrez, 3rd Ella Owens, 4th Ignacio Guevara Sosa, 5th Yuran Morrison, 6th Miles Denzlingh
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Nonprofessional Art:
1st William Ray, 2nd Rene’ Moak, 3rd Grace Mathis
Professional Art:
1st Michelle MacMahon, 2nd Enjoli Bush, 3rd JC Milich
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Nonadult Photography:
1st Memphis Hunter, 2nd Heidy Guerrero, 3rd Eduardo De Leon
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Adult Photography:
1st Jerome Cabeen, 2nd Jerome Cabeen, 3rd Jerry Connally
Honorable Mentions:
Youth Art (11 – 14 years) - Leslie Murillo, Elana Papillo, Diana Lopez, Priscilla Vargas
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Teen Art (15 – 18 years):
Arianna Davis, Milan Phan, Ayra Momin, Timmy Shreck, Merrick Monroe, Anthi Marie Crowell, Kadence Blakeman, Landon Smoke, Ismael Cervantes, Dayra, Jaramilo, and Yaidelysy Rivera Colon
Nonprofessional Art:
Pattie Dawes
Professional Art:
John G. Woodard, and Michelle MacMahon
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Adult Photography:
Emily Mire, Rene Moak, and Jerry Connally​
Preparing Your Entry:
