Lumi’s Utopia 2026

6th Annual Children’s Drawing Contest

What is Lumi’s Utopia?

LuminoCity Festival is proud to announce the return of our 6th annual Lumi’s Utopia Children’s Drawing Contest!
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The program bridges the gap between imagination and reality by transforming 2D paintings into handcrafted 3D light sculptures. Each winner’s drawing is brought to life by a team of traditional Chinese lantern artisans, ensuring every detail is captured through the lens of a centuries-old craft. Set to be a shining highlight of the 2026 LuminoCity Festival!

Join us as we celebrate a world seen through the eyes of a child—illuminated for all to see!

Online submissions are now closed. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us!

Stay Tuned for Winners!

Meet the 2026 Lumi’s utopia winners

Winners of the Children’s Drawing Competition

Fire Breathing T-Rex

by Albert Zhao, 8 years old

A brave and loyal T-Rex that breathes fire and has spikes on his back and has a poisonous tail barb like a scorpion.

Cookie Dino

by Angela Chen, 9 years old

Cookie Dino is a little dinosaur made of cookie dough. It has sweet icing on its head, tiny cookie spikes on its tail, and a colorful candy cane in its hands. Cookie Dino is friendly, brave, and always ready to share happiness.

Dancing Dino

by Bella Chlebek, 13 years old

This Dancing Dino always goes to the disco to bust out his moves! His scales start flowing with rainbow energy as he dances to groovy music!

Roger the Magic Dinosaur

by Carson Testa, 7 years old

Roger is a magic dinosaur T- Rex. He can throw flames from his hands. He wears a black top hat and tie dye cape. He is friendly.

Noah

by Christian Arthur, 8 years old

Noah is a boy that likes to splash in puddles. He is big!

Dan the Dino

by Declan Buckley, 10 years old

This is Dan the Dino. He is known for being a trickster and easy-going. He walks around and plays his drums. Dan also uses his signature hat to perform magic tricks. Dan is also known for running around town.

Skelnosaur

by Irene Chiang, 10 years old

Skelnosaur is a mysterious dinosaur skeleton that looks like it has come back to life. I drew it with sharp teeth, sharp claws, and strong bones to make it look powerful. I tried to make it mysterious.

The Dotted Dinosaur

by Jessie Sui, 10 years old

The Dotted Dinosaur is a friendly dinosaur covered with colorful dots. Every color tells a happy story. It wears a crown because it is kind and takes care of everyone.

Sprinkles

by Isabella Tiscione, 11 years old

Sprinkles is a dino that burps sundaes and carries ice cream on her back to shoot ice cream in enemy’s mouths. Her scales are giant sprinkles and her tail has a giant cherry.

Liamstirakosauri

by Leia Chea, 4 years old

Unicorn t-rex with a pretty horn. Rainbow happy t-rex that likes to party.

Cool, Dinosaur Dad!

by Yining Chen, 9 years old

A cool, bright green dinosaur dad wearing sunglasses takes his baby dinosaur for a walk in a stroller. He looks cool and chill, but he is also a caring father who enjoys spending time with his little baby.

Strawberry Dinosaur

by Yuna Fu, 8 years old

My Strawberry Dinosaur is very big, but she is not scary. She loves eating strawberries, playing with little animals, and walking through the strawberry fields. Sometimes she tries to hide, but her long neck always sticks out!

Meet the Winners

12 Young Artists. 12 Dino Friends.
One Big Adventure Ahead!

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Inspired by this year’s theme, Dino Friends, each young artist dreamed up a dinosaur friend of their very own,
filled with personality, color, and imagination.

And their journey is just getting started!

A brave and loyal T-Rex that breathes fire and has spikes on his back and has a poisonous tail barb like a scorpion.

Fire Breathing T-Rex

by Albert Zhao, 8 years old

Cookie Dino is a little dinosaur made of cookie dough. It has sweet icing on its head, tiny cookie spikes on its tail, and a colorful candy cane in its hands. Cookie Dino is friendly, brave, and always ready to share happiness.

Cookie Dino

by Angela Chen, 9 years old

This Dancing Dino always goes to the disco to bust out his moves! His scales start flowing with rainbow energy as he dances to groovy music!

Dancing Dino

by Bella Chlebek, 13 years old

Roger is a magic dinosaur T- Rex. He can throw flames from his hands. He wears a black top hat and tie dye cape. He is friendly.

Roger the Magic Dinosaur

by Carson Testa, 7 years old

Noah is a boy that likes to splash in puddles. He is big!

Noah

by Christian Arthur, 8 years old

This is Dan the Dino. He is known for being a trickster and easy-going. He walks around and plays his drums. Dan also uses his signature hat to perform magic tricks. Dan is also known for running around town.

Dan the Dino

by Declan Buckley, 10 years old

Skelnosaur is a mysterious dinosaur skeleton that looks like it has come back to life. I drew it with sharp teeth, sharp claws, and strong bones to make it look powerful. I tried to make it mysterious.

Skelnosaur

by Irene Chiang, 10 years old

The Dotted Dinosaur is a friendly dinosaur covered with colorful dots. Every color tells a happy story. It wears a crown because it is kind and takes care of everyone.

The Dotted Dinosaur

by Jessie Sui, 10 years old

Sprinkles is a dino that burps sundaes and carries ice cream on her back to shoot ice cream in enemy’s mouths. Her scales are giant sprinkles and her tail has a giant cherry.

Sprinkles

by Isabella Tiscione, 11 years old

Unicorn t-rex with a pretty horn. Rainbow happy t-rex that likes to party.

Liamstirakosauri

by Leia Chea, 4 years old

A cool, bright green dinosaur dad wearing sunglasses takes his baby dinosaur for a walk in a stroller. He looks cool and chill, but he is also a caring father who enjoys spending time with his little baby.

Cool, Dinosaur Dad!

by Yining Chen, 9 years old

My Strawberry Dinosaur is very big, but she is not scary. She loves eating strawberries, playing with little animals, and walking through the strawberry fields. Sometimes she tries to hide, but her long neck always sticks out!

Strawberry Dinosaur

by Yuna Fu, 8 years old

FROM DRAWING TO LIGHT

Their Dino Friends Are Coming to Life!

Each winning artwork will be transformed into a
larger-than-life illuminated sculpture by our lantern artisans,
bringing each young artist’s imagination beyond the page.

Creation:
Original artwork by our young artists

Production:
Winning artwork crafted into 3D lanterns

Celebration:
Final lantern showcase lights up the season

SEE THEIR IMAGINATIONS COME TO LIFE!

SAVE 20%
on Holiday Light Tickets

This winter, 12 Dino Friends will make their glowing debut at LuminoCity Holiday Lights Festival at Eisenhower Park!

Join us in celebrating these young artists and see their incredible imaginations light up the night!
get tickets

CERTIFICATE OF PARTICIPATION

Download certificate
Celebrate the creativity of every young artist
who participated in Lumi’s Utopia 2026: Dino Friends!
This year, we invite you to create a dinosaur friend as the heart of your artwork.
Creativity Over Accuracy:
Forget the textbooks — we want your dinosaur. Give it a personality, a superpower, or a disco move. The wilder, the better.
The Focus:
Your dinosaur should be the star. Keep backgrounds simple so your Dino Friend stands out!
Art Format:
Use traditional drawing or painting methods (markers, crayons, watercolors).
*Note: Digital works, photographs, and videos will not be accepted.

What is Lumi’s Utopia?

Where Young Imaginations Shine!

Now in its sixth year, Lumi’s Utopia is LuminoCity’s annual children’s art initiative that brings young imaginations to life by transforming winning drawings into handcrafted 3D illuminated sculptures for the public to enjoy. Rooted in the belief that every child is a natural artist, Lumi’s Utopia celebrates the creativity and boundless imagination of young minds.

THEME
RECOMMENDED AGE

FOUR AND UP

SUBMISSION PERIOD

Mar 30 -
May 31 2026

Submissions are now closed.

THe magic behind the glow

A Story of Light: Then & Now

Ancient Beginnings:
For over a thousand years, the Chinese Lantern Festival has been a celebration of new beginnings and prosperity. This traditional lantern craftsmanship originated in the Tang and Song Dynasties, where artisans used bamboo, silk, and candlelight to craft exquisite symbols of Chinese folklore, from auspicious zodiac animals to legendary tales.
Modern Magic:
Today, we preserve this Intangible Cultural Heritage by scaling it up for a global audience. While the core spirit remains, we now use durable steel and LEDs to transform these ancient roots into the immersive light art wonderlands of LuminoCity.

How the Magic Happens

The Blueprint for Dreams
A lantern engineer analyzes the original sketch to map out a precise "3D Blueprint." By translating 2D lines into structural plans, we ensure the final monumental sculpture stays 100% true to the artist's unique vision and whimsical details.
Building the "Soul"
A lantern craft master hand-bends stainless steel into a sturdy "skeleton." Thousands of LED lights are then woven inside the frame before vibrant satin is hand-glued, airbrushed, and hand-painted. This delicate process gives each character its glowing personality and artistic depth.
Lighting Up the Night
This is more than just a setup; it is a live public cultural Interpretation of a living heritage. By installing these massive works in nature, our team turns the festival grounds into an open-air gallery of glowing heritage, providing a modern celebration of Chinese cultural heritage for thousands of families to explore and enjoy.
With the involvement and artistic guidance of Master Lantern Artisan Jiang Lei and Huang Xingxiu, selected children’s drawings were transformed into three-dimensional lantern art displays through traditional Zigong lantern-making techniques.

"Illuminate Imagination" Exhibit at LICM

In 2024, the Long Island Children’s Museum hosted a dedicated exhibition titled "Illuminate Imagination!" celebrating the collaboration between Lumi’s Utopia and young creators.

The Exhibition showcased the journey of the 2024 winners, featuring original sketches alongside their massive 3D counterparts. Thousands of families visited LICM to see how children’s artwork can transform a community space and inspire future artists.
WINNING GALLERY

FROM CRAYON TO LIGHT SCULPTURE

Explore a collection of past winning artworks brought to life as glowing light sculptures.

AWARDS & PRIZES

The 3D Transformation:
Your artwork becomes a featured 3D light sculpture at the 2026 LuminoCity Festival.
Lumi’s Utopia Pass:
3-year unlimited entry to all LuminoCity Festivals (2026-2028).
LICM Family Pass:
A Family Four Pass to the Long Island Children's Museum.
WE ART Creative Set:
Special art gift set from We Art Education.

meet the judges

Erika S. Floreska
President of Long Island Children's Museum
Xiaoyi Chen
Founder & CEO of LuminoCity Festival
Zhou Yushuang
Founder and Principal of
We Art Education
Jiang lei
Master Lantern Artisan
Huang Xingxiu, traditional Zigong master lantern artisan with over 20 years of experience in large-scale illuminated cultural displays
Huang Xingxiu
Master Lantern Artisan

LICM In-Person Workshops:

2026 LICM in-person workshops have concluded.

Thank you to all participating families!

WE ART EDUCATION
ART PROGRAM:

The 2026 WE ART Education class featuring our Dino Friends theme has concluded.

Thank you to all participating young artists and families!

Online Submissions:

Thank you to everyone who submitted artwork for this year’s Lumi’s Utopia Children’s Drawing Contest. Our team and judges will review all eligible submissions.

Please stay tuned for winner announcements and future updates!
Art Format
Fill Out The Application
Enter Talent Info.
Scan your drawing into jpg or png file and upload.
Fill out the rest of the required information and submit.
Submission Period
Mar 30 – May 31 2026

how to participate

LICM Family Pass:
Draw your original Dino Friend on paper.
SCAN:
Save as a JPG/PNG (File name: ArtistName_DinoName).
UPLOAD:
Fill out the form below.