The Church History Museum of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salt Lake City, Utah, is presenting an exhibition of works selected from the 13th International Art Competition, running from April 24, 2025, to January 3, 2026. The exhibition features 150 artworks chosen from hundreds of submissions by five jurors, with artists from 26 countries including Angola, Argentina, Australia, and Vietnam. The theme, “Lift Up the Hands Which Hang Down,” is drawn from Doctrine and Covenants 81:5, and the show includes a variety of media such as sculpture, ceramic, chitenge, and tapa. Purchase and merit awards were announced at an April 24 ceremony, and a virtual gallery allows public voting for a Visitors’ Choice Award through November 30, 2025.
This exhibition matters because it highlights the intersection of faith and visual art within a specific religious community, showcasing the global diversity of Latter-day Saint cultural production. By purchasing selected works for the museum’s permanent collection, the competition actively shapes how the church’s identity and values are represented through art. The inclusion of a virtual gallery and public voting also reflects a contemporary approach to audience engagement, broadening access beyond the physical museum space.