Winners Announced for 2026 Oswego County Student Art Competition

OSWEGO COUNTY  – The Salmon River Fine Arts Center is pleased to present this year’s winners of the  30th annual Oswego County Student Art Show and competition! Students and their families packed the Salmon River Fine Arts Center as this year’s awards were announced. The competition was open to any student in grades  7 -12, living in Oswego county including public, private and homeschool students.  The exhibit is now on display and open to the public through April 4th during regular gallery hours.

Winning art was selected based on visual impact, originality and overall design and craftsmanship.  On display this year are 546 pieces of art from 385 students from eight school districts across the county. Artwork received was divided into six different categories for judging: Painting, Drawing, Mixed Media & Printmaking, Photography, Digital Art and Sculpture & Fine Craft. Approximately $2,000 in cash awards were given for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place in each category for two age groups: grades 7-9 and grades 10 -12.  In addition to these category awards there was a best of show award, several sponsor awards and numerous honorable mentions. The difficult task of judging was done by Liz Hunt and Renqian Yang, professors of art  from SUNY Oswego. Below is a list of the first place winners.

Best of Show

Haylee Goppelt, Starry Inspiration, Best of Show 

Drawing

Katherynn Fischmann, The Sapphire Dragonfly, 1st place grades 7-9

Morgan MacDuff, The Epitome of Teenage Beauty, 1st Place Grades 10-12

Painting

Raven Wheeler, My Own Stranger, 1st Place Grades 10-12

Charlotte Bruckman, ARCANE, 1st place grades 7-9

Photography

Maggie Clifford, Owen, 1st Place Grades 10-12

Mattison Pollic, Honey Bee, 1st place Grades 7 – 9

Printmaking/Mixed Media

Rachel Gagnier, Blue Heron, 1st place Grades 10 – 12

Hayley Korczakowski, Phases of Cat, 1st place Grades 7 – 9

Fine Craft & Sculpture

Elizabeth Bullis, Brown Lamp,  1st place Grades 10 – 12

Nicholas Ouellette, Elemental Contrast, 1st place Grades 7 – 9

Digital Art

Emily Smith, Happy Guy, 1st place Grades 10 – 12

“It is with such pride that we are able to host and help sponsor this important show that features the exceptional talent of students across our county,” says Ann Buchau, president of the Salmon River Fine Arts Center. “I encourage the public to come in and spend some time viewing the hundreds of pieces of artwork. It is such an amazing display of talent.”

The Salmon River Fine Arts Center expresses much gratitude for all those who make this show possible for the students. The volunteers who come in to sort, organize, tag and facilitate the process of judging and hanging is critical. Recognition is also given to the sponsors who support this show.  Deaton’s ACE Building and Home Center and Agway stores has been a major sponsor since the show’s inception thirty years ago. Other sponsors include NBT Bankof Pulaski. It is through the generosity of local community-minded businesses and individuals like these that help make it possible to nurture the skills of our youth and  award so many young students for their talent and efforts.

Perhaps most importantly, recognition should be given to the many dedicated art teachers who not only nurtured and encouraged students to create art, but made the effort to collect, prepare and submit the student work. Without them this show would not be possible.

The Salmon River Fine Arts Center is an all volunteer-run, 501(c) 3 not-for-profit organization, located in

Pulaski, NY.  Their mission is to enrich and educate the community by offering fine art exhibits,

workshops, and classes that promote artistic expression, engage the energy and creativity of local artists

and inspire the novice. The public may visit the gallery to view the current exhibit Thursdays and Fridays noon – 6 pm and Saturdays 10 am – 2 pm. For information about the Salmon River Fine Arts Center exhibits, classes, volunteer and membership opportunities please visit salmonriverfineartscenter.com, the Arts Center’s Facebook page at facebook.com/SalmonRiverFineArtsCenter/, call 315-298-7007 or email [email protected]

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