Teller County Student Art Show
See all of the 2026 Winners and their work here!
The Mountain Artists sponsor the annual Teller County Student Art Show, open to all middle school, high school, private school, and home-schooled students living in Teller County. The juried exhibition celebrates student creativity across multiple artistic categories, including oils, acrylics, watercolor, drawing, mixed media, digital design, 3-D works, and photography.
A respected local art educator or artist judges the submissions, with students receiving ribbons, certificates, and cash awards during a special awards ceremony and reception. Following the event, the student artwork is displayed at the Woodland Park Library, providing an opportunity for the community to appreciate and support young artistic talent.
In the middle school grades, Stella Ayad took 1st place in 6th Grade for Self, Grace Schissler won 1st in 7th Grade for Octopus, and Laylahnee Leaaetoa claimed the top spot in 8th Grade for Tiger Eye. Among the media categories, Madelynn Rose Smith earned 1st place in Acrylic for Woodland Park Panthers, and Jasmine Vigil took two first-place ribbons: Oil for What's Inside? and Watercolor for Spring Song. Melody Ortega won Drawing for A Skylark's Fate, and Milo Ritchie claimed Photography for Ducking Around, Oh Wait- Jenessis Martinez took Mixed Media for Layers of Bloom, Milo Ritchie won Digital Design for For Mother, and Madelynn Rose Smith added a second first-place ribbon with Cicada in 3-D.
Best of Show went to Madelynn Rose Smith for Woodland Park Panthers.
Teller County 2026 Student Art Show Celebrates Young Artists
The Awards Ceremony for the Teller County 2026 Student Art Show was held April 18, 2026, at the Woodland Park Library. The Mountain Artists have proudly sponsored this event for decades, and this year welcomed Walmart as a new co-sponsor. Walmart provided gift cards for middle school ribbon winners in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. The Library continues to co-host the event, and student artwork will hang in the downstairs gallery through April 30.
This year's show drew 74 pieces from 36 students across five public schools, one private school, and home-school programs. The show is open to any high school or middle school student living in Teller County or Lake George, whether enrolled in public, private, charter, online, or home school programs.
The standout of this year's show was Madelynn Rose Smith, who took home three awards: 1st place in Acrylic for Woodland Park Panthers, 1st place in 3-D for Cicada, and Best of Show, also for Woodland Park Panthers. It was a remarkable performance across two very different disciplines.
Participating teachers this year were Amanda Wahl and Josh Davidson from Woodland Park Junior/Senior High School, Leslie Gray from Merit Academy, Laura Klein from Cripple Creek/Victor School District, and Rebecca Larson from CS Christian School in Woodland Park. A sincere thank you to each of them, and to the parents who supported their students' participation.
This year's judge was Amy Spring, a local artist with more than 30 years of mural and commissioned work across the Pikes Peak region. Her paintings draw from the Western landscape and its wildlife, and her work appears in private homes, churches, schools, and businesses throughout the area. If you haven't seen her mural at the Woodland Park Walmart, go in through the pharmacy-side door on the right. It fills the entire wall.
Most of all, thank you to the young artists who entered their work. You're what makes this show worth doing.
Pictured Above: Amie Spring and Madelynn Rose Smith
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