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A 12th grade artist with a passion for NASA and space took home the top prize for the 2024 NASA Student Art Contest, a nationwide competition hosted by NASA\u2019s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.<\/p>\n
Esther Lee, of Washington State, was selected as the grand prize winner for her submission \u201cBeyond Imagination,\u201d which depicts a young girl and her dog in a cardboard box exploring the universe. Lee said she was inspired by memories of her adventurous childhood.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe underlying inspiration from this piece actually originates from childhood memories. As a kid, I used to sit down in cardboard moving boxes and shuffle along the carpet or wood floors, pretending that I was a pirate or adventurer on a ship exploring the vast unknowns,\u201d Lee said. \u201cUltimately, I wanted my piece to capture that same childlike innocence and joy from all those years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lee\u2019s piece stood out among a crowded and creative field. This year\u2019s theme, \u201cConnecting the Dots\u201d, encouraged K-12 students to explore innovative ideas about the intersection of science, technology, and art.<\/p>\n
Art contest coordinator, Kristina Cors, said this year\u2019s contest, which brought in more than 2000 entries, was one of the best. \u201cThe art contest received a record number of entries this year and the quality of the art was absolutely incredible. From the impressive skills of our winners to the joyful imagination of our youngest entries, each piece represented an excitement for exploration and creativity,\u201d remarked Cors.<\/p>\n
Lee\u2019s victory is a product of years of continued efforts and inspirations, as well as a personal interest in NASA\u2019s missions and space science. \u201cI\u2019ve been drawing on and off since elementary school. As I had more time during the pandemic, I had the opportunity to explore digital art more seriously. NASA and space have always been a huge inspiration for me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Using the software Procreate on her iPad, Esther took her interpretation of the prompt \u201cConnect the Dots\u201d skyward by imagining a connection between dreams and reality. She said \u201cBeyond Imagination\u201d emerged from a personal philosophy. \u201cAs a child, your dreams could take you far beyond your ordinary world. Equipped with just a cardboard box, paper hat, and plushies, you could travel all the way up to space and beyond. Your future is only restricted by your imagination.\u201d<\/p>\n
To view this year\u2019s contest submissions, click here.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n