WASHINGTON — Matilda (Tilly) Myers, a Maryland high school student, has been named one of two winners of the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery’s 2025 Teen Portrait Competition, earning top honors in the 13–15 age group for her photograph “Rest.”
The triennial national competition recognizes emerging talent in contemporary portrait photography among students ages 13 to 17 across the United States and its territories. Myers’ work was selected from more than 1,100 submissions received from students in 48 states, Guam, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., according to the National Portrait Gallery.
Myers is a Grade 11 student at the George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology. Her winning photograph will be featured alongside works by 18 other finalists in a video presentation on the second floor of the National Portrait Gallery from Jan. 24, 2026, through Aug. 30, 2026. The presentation will also be available online during that time.
“It is such a pleasure to work with Tilly since her freshman year at Carver, and seeing her growth through these past three years has been exciting,” said Sherry Insley, a photography and art instructor at Carver Center. “Tilly brings a great narrative to all her photographic work, especially to her portraits. She has not only developed impressive technical skills but also her artistic voice. She is curious and always experimenting; these are qualities that successful artists employ in their work.”
Myers’ photograph, titled “Rest,” explores themes of gender and identity by juxtaposing traditionally masculine and feminine imagery. The image depicts a ballerina at rest while holding a pickaxe, encouraging viewers to consider expectations surrounding strength, labor and appearance. According to the museum, the work is part of a broader group of finalist photographs that address issues such as identity, tradition, mental health and family relationships through the perspectives of teenagers.
The Teen Portrait Competition is inspired by the National Portrait Gallery’s Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition, which features professional artists. The teen version is designed to highlight the next generation of portrait artists and to amplify youth voices within contemporary visual culture.
Entries were submitted through an anonymous open call and reviewed by the Teen Museum Council, a group of high school students from Washington, D.C., Maryland and Virginia. The council focuses on learning about museum careers while building a community for teens through interactive programs and events inspired by the Portrait Gallery’s collection.
From the more than 1,100 entries, the Teen Museum Council selected 40 semi-finalists. In the final round of judging, three members of the council were joined by artist Caitlin Teal Price, who is based in Washington, D.C., and New York. That panel selected 19 finalists and named Myers and Kate Stermer of California as the two prizewinners. Stermer received the top prize in the 16–17 age group.
“The Teen Portrait Competition is more than a celebration of talent; it’s a testament to the power of youth to reflect, challenge and reimagine the world through art,” said Sahtiya Hammell, education specialist and head of teen programs at the National Portrait Gallery. “Bringing the bold creativity and thoughtful perspectives of young artists from across the nation together highlights the universality of questions about identity, visibility and community in our contemporary discourse.”
Ten finalists were chosen from the 13–15 age group, and nine were selected from the 16–17 age group. The finalists represent a wide geographic range, including students from California, Virginia, Minnesota, Massachusetts, Texas, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Nevada and Colorado.
The finalists’ photographs will be displayed alongside “The Outwin 2025: American Portraiture Today,” the National Portrait Gallery’s triennial exhibition showcasing finalists from the 2025 Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition by artists age 18 and older.
The Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery is located at Eighth and G streets NW in Washington. The museum tells the story of the United States through portraits of individuals who have shaped American history and culture, spanning the visual arts, performing arts and new media.
More information about the Teen Portrait Competition and the Teen Museum Council is available on the museum’s website at npg.si.edu.
