CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle High School graduate Hannah Shelfer’s art on display at U.S. Capitol

That artwork, “The Matriarchs” by West Seattle High School Class of 2021 graduate Hannah Shelfer. is now on display at the U.S. Capitol! Our area’s U.S. House Rep. Pramila Jayapal (also a West Seattleite) circulated the image this weekend, noting that the artist was this district’s winner in last year’s Congressional Art Competition. WSB reader Kathleen pointed this out and wondered if we could find out more about Hannah. We contacted her family, which tells us the artist is now a student at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., majoring in food science. Her award-winning painting, according to her family, “was inspired by the 2020 movie ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom’. This digital piece was constructed using multiple layers of color and methods that approximate conventional painting and drawing tools. Hannah’s artwork earned her the Fine Arts Department Scholar Award in the WSHS 2021 graduating class.” Also while at WSHS, she was a swim-team athlete and, her family adds, also competed regionally and nationally as a team member of Pacific Waves Synchronized Swim Club.

10 Replies to "CONGRATULATIONS! West Seattle High School graduate Hannah Shelfer's art on display at U.S. Capitol"

  • R2 January 10, 2022 (6:58 pm)

    I love this so much! Great job!

  • Sam-c January 10, 2022 (7:23 pm)

    I saw this posted on Facebook and was blown away!  Congrats to Hannah on your art featured at the US Capitol!

  • Blbl January 10, 2022 (7:27 pm)

    That’s amazing! Congratulations! 

  • KD January 10, 2022 (7:46 pm)

    Thankyou for the looking it up! I wonder where we can purchase her work? 

  • IPreferAnimals January 11, 2022 (2:21 am)

    Absolutely stunning! Congratulations to the talented artist!

  • Joseph in West Seattle January 11, 2022 (9:13 am)

    Absolutely beautiful!  What an awesome talent!

  • miws January 11, 2022 (9:17 am)

    This is so incredibly beautiful. A well-deserved honor for Hannah to have it displayed at the U.S. Capitol… —Mike 

  • D January 11, 2022 (10:26 am)

    Congrats Hannah on beautiful art, gorgeous piece of art

  • Mrs. A January 11, 2022 (11:11 am)

    Congrats Hannah!  This is a lovely piece of art, and the honor is well deserved.  I’m always so very impressed by young people from West Seattle.  All the best in college and forward!

  • Jodie January 11, 2022 (9:02 pm)

    Tremendous talent! 

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