WILMINGTON, DELAWARE — For the second year in a row, downstate Delaware artists are taking home the top prizes in Partnership for the Delaware Estuary’s (PDE) Trash Into Treasure Art Contest. Smyrna resident Angelina Smith claimed first place while Frederica resident Sharon Naccarato — last year’s first-place winner — earned second in the 2026 competition.
Smith claimed first prize for her painting, “Deer in the Winter,” and Naccarato took second for her multi-media work, “Birds of a Feather Collect Trash Together.” Claymont resident Apeksha Jain placed third with her untitled work.
“I’m beyond ecstatic!” Smith exclaimed upon hearing that she won first place. “Thank you and the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary for this amazing opportunity.”
Now in its fourth year, the Trash Into Treasure contest is held in conjunction with the Christina River Watershed Cleanup, which takes place on Saturday, April 11. The contest welcomes a wide range of artistic mediums, provided the subject matter reflects the importance of keeping waterways clean and litter-free. Submissions ranged from paint and pen-and-ink to mixed media, including fabrics, buttons, and plastic jewels. Many artists incorporated recycled materials such as plastic, cut aluminum, water bottle wrappers, and more. All Delaware residents were eligible to enter. This year, PDE received a record number of canvas requests and artwork submissions. While many participating artists were from Wilmington and New Castle County, others submitted works from as far south as Ellendale and Delmar in Sussex County.
“Each year, the contest continues to grow, and we love seeing that momentum,” said PDE Executive Director Kathy Klein. “It is a natural complement to the Christina Cleanup, underscoring the importance of clean water while showcasing the incredible creativity and heart our artists bring to the theme of clean waters, healthy habitats, and strong communities.”
PDE displayed the artwork in person at the Louis L. Redding City County Building in downtown Wilmington and online, with winners selected through public online voting. The contest received nearly 600 votes. Prizes included a $350 gift certificate for first place, $250 for second place, and $150 for third place. The artwork will remain on display at the Redding building located at 800 N. French St., Wilmington, through the end of April.
There’s still time to get involved in keeping local waterways clean! The Christina River Watershed Cleanup takes place from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, April 11, at 10 locations throughout Wilmington and northern New Castle County. Those interested in volunteering can sign up at christinarivercleanup.org/volunteer-form/.
You can also view the artwork online through PDE’s Flickr album: https://bit.ly/TrashIntoTreasureAlbum.
