Artwork will be displayed in U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., and also at Rep. Bentz Oregon 2nd District offices

She does it for the love of art.

Talula Heckendorf, a Phoenix High School junior, submitted two pieces of art for the annual State of Oregon Congressional Art Competition, with one of the pieces winning the contest and is now set to be displayed at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

Her winning piece is titled “Man Walking Through an Alaskan Town,” and her second piece of artwork, “The Colorful Desert with Huge Cacti,” will be displayed at Rep. Cliff Bentz’s Ontario office in Eastern Oregon. Bentz represents the sprawling 2nd District, which includes Eastern Oregon, as well as Jackson and Josephine counties.

Heckendorf will be invited to travel to the U.S. Capitol and view her art up close in the hallowed halls as well as attend a reception celebrating her and others high school students’ artistry. 

“I invited my mom to come, she’s a big inspiration for all of my art and has always there for me, so she’s coming along and it’s going to be a big thing for me because I’ve been told to put my artwork up in museums and local areas and I haven’t done it yet, and just seeing that is going to be very mind-blowing for me,” Heckendorf told the Rogue Valley Times in an interview. “I’m very excited to see that.”

The inspiration behind sketching “Man Walking Through an Alaskan Town” came from seeing a photograph of her cousin. 

“I thought it was a great picture and high-contrast photo with the jacket, folds in his pants and shoes,” she said. “I also liked the wood on the bottom for the floor and all the wood lines had that contrast; the big mountain in the back with little shops were also in the background to balance the photo.”

Heckendorf’s love for contrast, natural settings and many other aspects of art translated into “The Colorful Desert with Huge Cacti,” as well. 

“That one’s in colored pencil. I’m obsessed with cactus landscapes and cacti in general,” she said. “That one took a while to blend the colored pencils, but through the process I was thinking about different small elements in the landscape and desert and sky background with all the colors.”

Heckendorf’s art has been commended by Bentz. 

“I am pleased to congratulate Talula on this terrific achievement. I look forward to seeing ‘Man Walking Through an Alaskan Town’ each day over the upcoming year, as I walk to and from the House Chamber,” Bentz said in a press release.

Heckendorf’s art was selected by a panel of five judges who praised the piece as having “great depth, detail and perspective.” 

The Congressional Art Competition is sponsored by the Congressional Institute and recognizes and encourages artistic talent in the U.S. and each congressional district.

Since the nationwide competition began in 1982, more than 650,000 high school students have participated. 

The winning works are displayed for one year at the U.S. Capitol, and Phoenix High School has had student-artists win in 2023 and 2024, as well. 

Heckendorf has been creating art from a young age.

“I was raised in a Waldorf school, which I went to from kindergarten to middle school … it taught you how to use watercolors and use your creativity in the arts,” she said. “It was very hands on, so I just basically love doing hands-on work.” 

She was home-schooled for some time and taught herself calligraphy, mixed media, watercolor and other skills utilizing the internet and YouTube videos. 

“My whole life I’ve been doing this, so the more I learned, the more I got better and made progress through learning and teaching myself,” Heckendorf said. 

The local teen finds great value through art, whether through de-stressing after a long day, connecting spiritually or finding her own voice.  

“I think it’s the only thing that can calm my brain, because I have so much I want to accomplish and do and that one thing helps my brain rest and not think of the hustle mentality,” Heckendorf said. “I have hustle-mode in me but (art) helps me rest and stay calm and helps me through little stresses throughout the day or helps me get rid of what people say or put down on me.”

Along with Heckendorf, Crater high school senior Avery McLean was recognized for her artwork “Wild and Beautiful,” and
“Mangoes” by Lesly Alvarado Perez, a McLoughlin High School 10th-grader in Milton-Freewater, also was honored.

Reach reporter James Sloan at james.sloan@rv-times.com.