LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – An elementary school student is getting the chance to show off his artwork in a unique way for all of the Las Vegas valley to see.
Clark County celebrated Johan Mendez Herrera, a third grader from Gene Ward Elementary School after he won the Spring Billboard Artwork contest on Thursday.
Herrera’s art is on display on one of Connell Outdoor Advertising’s billboards located at Harry Reid International Airport.
Herrera said one of his favorite parts of the competition was comparing photos of many iconic landmarks across the Las Vegas valley and then recreating the images himself.
“I looked at some photos so I can see what they looked like, and then I drew them, like the Sphere and the pyramid and the castle,” Herrera said. “My only goal is to be a professional artist.”
This year’s theme was entitled “What Las Vegas Means to Me,” and invited young artists to visually represent their personal connections to Las Vegas.
“This innovative contest continues to provide a fantastic platform to celebrate and encourage the creativity of young students,” Clark County Commissioner Jim Gibson said. “It is a wonderful example of how we can cultivate a love for the arts in our community.”
