Vinnie Ream Rules!

By Karen McAferty Morris, 2nd VP/Vinnie Ream Chair

The rules for the 2026-27 Vinnie Ream Competition can be found in the summer issue of The Pen Woman and at nlapw.org/vinnie-ream-medal.

And the competition itself rules!

Clever wordplay, right? OK, maybe not such clever wordplay, but still. There’s excitement in the air at Vinnie Ream submission time, the NLAPW’s prestigious competition honoring an illustrious Pen Woman who held certification in art, letters, and music. Vinnie Ream with Lincoln bust

Lincoln Statue
Left, Vinnie Ream with her bust of President Lincoln. Above, her Lincoln sculpture in the modern-day U.S. Capitol Rotunda.

The inspiration for this eponymous event is best known for being the youngest and the first female artist to create a work of art for the U.S. government — at the age of 18. Visit the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol and you’ll see her life-size marble statue of President Abraham Lincoln. (She’d already sculpted his bust, having spent time with him for five months as he worked in his office.) And these are only two of her many accomplishments. Do just a little research — she was awesome.

At the Biennial, a gala banquet is held in honor of the three Vinnie Ream winners, one each in art, letters, and music, and honorable mentions are typically awarded, too. The prize is your choice of $300 or a sterling silver harp pendant accented with zirconia.

Don’t miss this opportunity to put your talent on display, “to follow Ream’s sterling example of elevating one’s artwork to the highest level,” to showcase your best work.

The submission deadline, March 30, 2027, may seem a long way off, but now’s the time to make the decision: This is the year you’re going to challenge yourself by competing for the Vinnie Ream.