HeART of Lenexa Contest winners announced

Published on February 06, 2026

There’s lots to love about Lenexa. And when you combine local talent and local love, you get HeART. 

Last night, the Lenexa Arts Council and Mayor Julie Sayers recognized 25 local artists for their Lenexa-inspired work as part of the 2026 HeART of Lenexa Contest. The annual contest, now in its 11th year, received nearly 40 submissions. They represent all experience levels and in a variety of media — from paintings and photography to fiber, jewelry and sculpture.

The juried contest is on display through March 1, 2026, in the Lenexa City Hall Art Gallery (17101 W. 87th St. Pkwy., Lenexa, KS 66219). Ribbons identify category winners. 

Meet the artists

HeART of Lenexa Contest winners

Best of Show

• Harry Healey, Hoo's There
  (Wood sculpture)

First Place Adult

• Lisa Coyan, Art of Water
  (Jewelry)

Second Place Adult

• Wendy Delzeit, A Treat for the Green Heron
  (Photography)

Third Place Adult

• Mary Deardorff, Three Cardinals in the Forest
  (Oil painting)

First Place Teen

• Cora Jones, Aquatics at Night
  (Colored pencil)

Second Place Teen

• Lexington Szerwinski, Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park
  (Digital)

First Place Child

• Juliana Hickey, A Walk in Sar-Ko Park With My Dog Hank
  (Pencil and markers)

Second Place Child

• Lily Watts, Axolotl Eating Ice Cream
  (Painting on canvas)

Third Place Child

• Cooper Goodwin, The Red Barn
  (Mixed media)

Honorable Mention

• Katrina Dudek-Schubach, The Serpent's Autumn
  (Mixed media)

Honorable Mention

• Nancy Calkins, Morning Run
  (Digital)

Honorable Mention

• Janet Hall, Sunny Saturday
  (Mixed media)

Founders Award

Selected by Emma Neely who originated the HeART of Lenexa contest in 2015 as a Girl Scout. 

• Wendy Delzeit, Lenexa: Where We Play
  (Multimedia)

How to participate

The Lenexa Arts Council will accept applications for next year’s HeART of Lenexa Contest from Aug. 1–Oct. 31, 2026.  View the contest rules