Flower to Mary
The 2026 Sacred Art Live! LUX Art Contest invites homeschooled and independent Catholic school students in grades 6 through 8 to create a work honoring the Blessed Mother. No entry fee. Nine winners share $2,400 in scholarship prizes.
Register by Tuesday, November 3
Registration takes a few minutes. Each registrant receives a number for naming their files and a link to the submission form. Read the full contest guidelines โ
Register NowTuesday, November 3
Registration closes
Friday, November 20
Digital submissions due
Wednesday, December 2
Finalists notified by email
Tuesday, December 8
Finalists deliver artwork to Cathedral High School
Saturday and Sunday, December 12โ13
Finalists exhibited at the Our Lady of Walsingham Advent Market
Sunday, December 13
Winners announced at the Advent Market
January 5โ30, 2027
Artwork pickup at Cathedral High School
Flowers to Mary
For centuries, Catholics have honored the Blessed Mother with flowers. They hang garlands around her images, crown her statues in May, and plant Mary gardens. Some flowers even carry her name in folk tradition, such as the marigold, once called Mary's gold. This contest invites students to take up that tradition in a work of their own.
The theme is defined by subject, not style. Every medium and approach is welcome, from watercolor and pencil to sculpture and digital work, as long as the piece represents "Flowers to Mary" in some way. Each artist explains the connection in a short artist statement.
Who Can Enter
The contest is open to students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade who are homeschooled or enrolled in an independent Catholic school in the Houston area. There is no entry fee.
Each grade has its own first, second, and third place, for nine winners in all. Prize money goes toward the student's educational expenses.
How judging works. Entries are judged anonymously. A jury reviews the digital submissions and selects ten finalists from each grade. An independent panel of artists then chooses the top three in each grade.
Five Steps to Submit
1. Register by November 3. Complete the registration form โ You will receive a registrant number and the submission link.
2. Make the artwork. Two-dimensional work may be no more than 24 inches on any side. Three-dimensional work must fit in a box 2 feet square and weigh no more than 100 pounds. Leave the student's name off the artwork.
3. Photograph it. Take one clear, crisp JPEG under 5 MB, with nothing in the frame except the artwork. Name the file with your registrant number.
4. Write the artist statement. Write at least 1,000 characters (about 170 words) describing how the piece was made and how it represents "Flowers to Mary." Leave the student's name out of the statement.
5. Submit by November 20. The submission form asks for the student's first and last name, the full formal name of the school or homeschool, grade, artwork title, medium, the artist statement, and the JPEG.
If Your Student Is a Finalist
Finalists are notified by email on Wednesday, December 2.
Preparation
Mat the artwork for exhibition. A frame is not required. Families must print digital artwork themselves, because Cathedral High School and the contest committee do not print entries.
Delivery
Bring the artwork to Cathedral High School, 7726 Westview Dr, Houston, TX 77055, any weekday between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., by Tuesday, December 8. The Cathedral High School team handles installation.
Exhibition
Finalists are displayed on panel walls at the Our Lady of Walsingham Advent Market, December 12โ13. Winners are announced on Sunday, December 13.
Pickup
Collect the artwork at Cathedral High School between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., January 5โ30, 2027.
Share the Flyer
Print the official flyer for your co-op, parish, or school. The QR code on it links to registration.
Questions
Contact Elaine Jones at Cathedral High School at [email protected].
Questions
Contact Elaine Jones at Cathedral High School at [email protected].
Join the CHECH Community
Sacred art is one of the ways Catholic families hand on the faith, and CHECH exists to help families do that work together. Homeschooled artists can also submit their finished piece to Showcase Magazine, CHECH's annual collection of student work. Membership is $35 a year for the whole family. It includes enrichments and excursions, curated Catholic and curriculum resources, community groups across Houston, member discounts, and member programs like the Spelling Bee.
Become a Member