RIO GRANDE — The next generation of artists were on full display Thursday at the Esther Allen Greer Museum with the closing reception for the High School Juried Invitational Art Exhibition.

Junior and seniors from throughout the region were invited to participate in the showcase with 38 works displayed. The evenings top honors – Best In Show and a $500 scholarship to the University of Rio Grande/Rio Grande Community College — were awarded to River Valley High School’s Addison Coldren and Waverly High School’s Madison Patrick.

Coldren earned Best In Show for her sculpture titled “Face Off.”

Greer Museum Director James Allen described Coldren’s work as “a beautiful mixed media sculpture. Addison’s use of cast faces on a steel armature creates a visual impact that holds the viewer’s attention.”

Patrick earned Best In Show for “Well Traveled,” a graphite drawing of an elderly women which Allen said, “exhibits an extraordinary ability to control the medium and render details with great accuracy.”

Rio Grande’s School of Fine Arts Chair Benjy Davies, who joined Allen as exhibition judges, also praised the talents of the artists.

“The work of award winners Madison Patrick and Addison Coldren show a strong commitment to craft, materials and content,” said Davies. “Each of these young artists have demonstrated great achievement and should be commended for their commitment to excellence and their artistic vision.”

The exhibition showcased works from seven regional high schools: Ironton, Jackson, Minford, Point Pleasant, Portsmouth, River Valley and Waverly.

Aside from Best In Show, five $25 runner-up prizes were awarded. River Valley’s Ashten Brooks earned a pair of runner-up accolades for her pencil piece titled “Reservation” and color pencil work “Soulful”; Waverly’s Alex Thompson was recognized for the graphite piece titled “Tree Gazer”; and Jackson had two runner-ups with Zoe Stevwer’s “Blowing in the Wind” and Rachel Green’s “Where the Magic Lives.”