‘Thrill’ by Catherine Price. Courtesy photo
Catherine Price/Courtesy photo
LAPS NEWS RELEASE
Los Alamos High School 2026 graduate Catherine Price is making a name for herself in the New Mexico art world. Her art piece entitled Thrill was selected as New Mexico’s State Winner in this year’s Celebrate the West 2026 High School Art Competition.
As a winner, Catherine received a cash prize and qualified for the 2026 People’s Choice Award. In her description of her artwork, Catherine wrote, “This piece is inspired by the thrilling sight of barrel racing in a rodeo. I moved to New Mexico from the northeast when I was 12 and I still remember going to the rodeo for the first time. The speed and movement of the event was breathtaking and I felt a strong sense of pride in living in the west. I wanted to capture the excitement of the high-speed event, a balance of awe-inspiring athleticism and careful grace.”
“Catherine is an exceptional artist and a wonderful person,” said LAHS art teacher Mary Grace. “It was my pleasure to be part of her artistic journey throughout high school. I am not surprised by this win. Catherine is destined for greatness!”
In 2024, Catherine won the Congressional Art Competition for New Mexico’s 3rd Congressional District represented by Teresa Leger Fernandez. Last fall, her artwork entitled “CowBoy Dog” was selected for display at the Jerry Apodaca New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) building.
Catherine has also received several Gold Key awards in New Mexico Scholastic Art and Writing Competition over the past three years. She was awarded two Gold Keys in this year’s competition, in the drawing and painting categories. She also received a Silver Key for her art portfolio, earning her a $1,000 scholarship.
The Western Governors’ Foundation is proud to manage Celebrate the West, a regional art competition that challenges high school students to create works inspired by their state or otherwise evocative of the West. The annual visual arts challenge is open to high school students in the states and territories served by the Western Governors’ Association (WGA). Winning artists receive cash prizes and their work is displayed at WGA’s Annual Meeting and on the Association’s website.