Celebrating ‘Women with Wings’: FAI Young Artists Contest winners announced
(Header image by Shengyu Wang of China, whose dynamic interpretation of the theme gained a third place in the senior category)
Winning artists in the 2025 Young Artists Contest splashed colour and creativity in their artworks exploring the theme ‘Women with Wings’, letting their imaginations soar to portray female participation in air sports.
Liberty, vitality and adventure were captured by the paints, pastels and pencils of youngsters who took part in a national competition organised by their country’s FAI Member, and were selected to go through to the final judging stage.
Tanvi Rout of India composed this bold and inventive perspective on air sports
The annual competition (which has been running since 1986) is open to artists between the ages of six and 17. FAI gold, silver and bronze medals and diplomas are presented to the top three artists in each of the three age categories.
FAI President Greg Principato said: “Congratulations to all the artists will receive medals in this year’s FAI Young Artist Contest, and congratulations also to those who entered through their national organisations. Inspiring young people to become interested in air sports and aviation is a part of our mission and this contest is a great part of that effort.
“This year’s theme, 'Women with Wings,' celebrated the women who have soared beyond expectations and shown that the skies are open to all. Through their creative work, these young talents captured the spirit of air sports — a world full of freedom, courage, and endless possibilities.“It is wonderful to see so many young people taking part, and I hope their work will inspire the next generation of young girls to become interested in air sports and aviation.”
Zhuoyu Duan's charming picture captures girls and boys letting their imaginations soar into the skies
Results of the 2025 FAI Young Artists Contest
Group I - Junior Category (Ages 6-9)
- Zhuoyu Duan (CHN)
- Jiayue Wang (CHN)
- Manon Da Cruz (FRA)
Total number of paintings submitted to final stage: 27
Group II - Intermediate Category (Ages 10-13)
- Lottie Schmutz (USA)
- Tanvi Rout (IND)
- Ruyi Jiang (CHN)
Total number of paintings submitted to final stage: 28
Group III - Senior Category (Ages 14-17)
- Lalitha Kuchipudi (USA)
- Lukne Brazlauskaite (LTU)
- Shengyu Wang (CHN)
Total number of paintings submitted to final stage: 24
Manon Da Cruz entwines history and fantasy in a celebration of adventurous heroines of the skies
Interpreting the 2025 theme: Women with Wings
The winning artists fused history and STEM education with creativity, crafting colourful representations of women in aeronautics. Through art, these youngsters harnessed the adventurous spirit and took to the skies.
FAI Members (NACs) submitted 79 artworks to the final judging stage from young people who had been inspired through their national competitions to explore this year’s theme.
Inspirational female astronauts motivated Lalitha Kuchipudi's captivating design
The FAI Secretariat in Lausanne received entries from Bulgaria, China, France, India, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland, Serbia and USA.
FAI congratulates the talented winners and all the young artists who took part in this year’s competition, and extends gratitude to the FAI Members who organised a national competition in their country.
The theme for the FAI Young Artists Contest 2026 will soon be announced.
Lukne Brazlauskaite's moving interpretation of the theme evokes freedom through flight
