Houston-area students take top honors in RodeoHouston art contest

Joshua Washington's painting "Between Boots and Moccasins" named Grand Champion at annual School Art Awards Ceremony

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Joshua Washington, a senior at Pasadena Memorial High School, was named Grand Champion at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's annual School Art Awards Ceremony. Washington's painting "Between Boots and Moccasins" will be displayed at the Hayloft Gallery throughout the rodeo before the School Art Auction on March 15, where students can win a share of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Fort Bend ISD senior Mingyi Li was named Reserve Champion for her colored pencil work "Head On". In total, 90 student artworks were selected to be showcased and auctioned off at the event.

Why it matters

The RodeoHouston art contest is a prestigious annual event that celebrates the artistic talents of Houston-area students and provides them with an opportunity to showcase their work and potentially earn significant scholarship funds. The contest highlights the vibrant creative community in the region and the importance of arts education.

The details

Joshua Washington's winning painting "Between Boots and Moccasins" depicts a man in traditional Native American wear conversing with another in traditional Western wear, which Washington said he intended to represent an engaging story that could inspire different interpretations. Mingyi Li's Reserve Champion piece "Head On" was a colored pencil work inspired by photos she and her friends take at a local ranch. In total, the judges reviewed over 4,300 entries from students across 97 Houston-area school districts and 54 private schools, with only 90 selected to be auctioned off at the event.

  • The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo's annual School Art Awards Ceremony took place on Sunday.
  • The School Art Auction where the selected student artworks will be sold is scheduled for March 15.
  • The 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo runs from March 4 to March 23.

The players

Joshua Washington

A senior at Pasadena Memorial High School who was named Grand Champion for his painting "Between Boots and Moccasins".

Mingyi Li

A Fort Bend ISD senior who was named Reserve Champion for her colored pencil work "Head On".

Sophie Zhou

Last year's Grand Champion winner, whose piece "Nurture" earned a record $276,000 at the auction.

Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo

The organization that hosts the annual art contest and auction, which contributes millions of dollars to educational programs and scholarships.

Pasadena ISD

The school district that had 18 students selected to have their artworks showcased and auctioned.

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What they’re saying

“It felt like a symbol, and I just thought that would be a good photo to represent (the rodeo).”

— Joshua Washington (Houston Chronicle)

“This is what I've wanted and what I've dreamed of since I was in fifth grade ... I'm very grateful for what I've been able to accomplish.”

— Joshua Washington (Houston Chronicle)

“Usually for competitions, you turn in your piece digitally and that's it. This one is different because you get to be so involved in the competition itself and it's supporting a good cause.”

— Mingyi Li, Fort Bend ISD senior (Houston Chronicle)

What’s next

The School Art Auction where the selected student artworks will be sold is scheduled for March 15.

The takeaway

The RodeoHouston art contest showcases the incredible artistic talent of Houston-area students and provides them with a unique platform to have their work displayed and potentially earn significant scholarship funds, highlighting the importance of arts education in the region.