Rep. Hoyle Announces 2025 Congressional Art Competition Winner
For Immediate Release: May 28, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Val Hoyle (OR-04) announced Teakki Rain Legg from Florence as Oregon's Fourth District's winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition. Winners have their artwork featured in the U.S. Capitol for one year and receive a round-trip ticket to Washington, D.C. for themselves and a guardian to be recognized at an annual awards ceremony when the art is displayed.
“Teakki Legg’s artistry and attention to detail stood out with his entry into this year’s competition, Shining Light, which depicts the rugged beauty of the Oregon Coast,” Rep. Hoyle said. “His work will hang in the U.S. Capitol for the next year, representing the best of our district. Beyond his artwork, Teakki is a model student giving back to his community, serving on the board of the Florence Regional Arts Alliance and teaching art classes. I also want to commend his teachers, Lauren Suveges of Siuslaw High School and John Leasure at the Florence Regional Arts Alliance, for nurturing Teakki’s talents and pushing him to enter this competition. I look forward to meeting Teakki and his parents, Roanne and Brandt, and welcoming them to our office in Washington, D.C.”
‘Shining Light’ by Teakki Rain Legg
A Word from the Artist
My name is Teakki Legg and I’m a 16 year-old artist raised in Oregon. My piece, Shining Light, was heavily inspired by the Oregon coast where I live, which is populated by many lighthouses, such as Heceta Head and Yaquina. The lighthouse is a metaphor to illuminate possibilities and connection in the world, which sometimes can feel dark, but there’s always a light to go toward. As an artist, I simply can’t help but be inspired by the beauty of Oregon, in particular the coast.
I mainly work in watercolor and ink, but my painting was done in oil, a relatively new medium I’ve been experimenting with. I’ve had a great oil teacher, John Leasure, as well as my wonderful High School art teacher, Lauren Suveges, who also encouraged me to enter the Congressional Art Competition. Oil allows me to be more expressive with my colors and strokes, due to the fact that oil paint is so much thicker.
I’m so excited for the opportunity to go to Washington DC to see my painting hanging in the Capitol. Thank you!
Teakki Rain Legg
Teakki Rain Legg, 16, was born in the art colony of Taos, New Mexico into a creative family filled with artists and writers. Home-schooled since birth, Teakki completed his first commissioned work at age 13.
Teakki’s work has won him multiple recognitions, including an Artist’s Choice Award. At age 15, Teakki began serving on the board of the Florence Regional Arts Alliance (FRAA). In his spare time, he teaches classes in watercolor, and pen and ink.
Some of his favorite artists include M. C. Escher, Rob Gonsalves, Bob Ross, Mark Kistler, and his grandfather, Martin Goldman. He enjoys and is inspired by comics, such as Calvin and Hobbes, and plans to pursue a career as an artist.
You can see more of Teakki’s work here.
The Congressional Art Competition
The Congressional Art Competition is a bipartisan initiative to incentivize arts education for high school students across America. Every district that chooses to participate selects one winner annually. More information can be found on Rep. Hoyle’s website.
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