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

The Lenexa Arts Council and Mayor Mike Boehm recognized 27 local artists for their Lenexa-inspired work as part of the HeART of Lenexa Contest. The annual contest, now in its eighth year, had more than 45 submissions. These submissions came from all ages and experience levels and in a variety of art forms from pencil, paint and poetry to clay, crochet and crafting.  

The juried contest is on display until Feb. 26, 2023, in the Lenexa City Hall Art Gallery (17101 W. 87th St. Pkwy., Lenexa, KS 66219). Ribbons denote category winners. 

Meet the artists

HeART of Lenexa Contest winners

First Place (12 and younger)

Malia Buer, "Lenexa Library Cartoon" (acrylic paint on canvas)

First Place (Adult)

Amanda Reece, "Sar-Ko Dragon" (watercolor)

Best of Show (New Award)

Lisa Coyan, "Functional Beauty" (jewelry)

Founders Award

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

Connie Powell, "Keeping Lenexa Safe - K-9 Bruno" (graphite pencil)

Honorable Mention

• Wendy Delzeit, "Cruisin’" (macro photography)
• Katrina Dudek-Schubach, "Birding in Lenexa" (gouache)
• Courtney Gras, "Lenexa Temperature Blanket" (acrylic yarn)
• Camille Gras, "Magical Clearing" (clay)
  Lisa Healey, "Crystalation" (photography)
• Tina Kolm, "Sar-Ko-Par Trails Park at Dusk" (oil on stretched canvas)
• Connie Powell, "Keeping Lenexa Safe - K-9 Bruno" (graphite pencil)
• Tony Sabatino, "Young Spring" (photography)
• Cheryl Schroeder, "Is it a Deer or a Goat?" (oil)
• Robert Taff, "Sar-Ko-Par Lights" (acrylic on canvas)

The Lenexa Arts Council will begin accepting applications for the next HeART of Lenexa Contest on March 31, 2023. The deadline is Dec. 31.