Language came to life at Utah Valley University (UVU) on February 18 and 19 during the fourth annual International Mother Language Day art competition, where creativity, culture, and personal storytelling intersected through art.
Language came to life at Utah Valley University (UVU) on February 18 and 19 during the fourth annual International Mother Language Day art competition, where creativity, culture, and personal storytelling intersected through art. This year’s competition featured 21 submissions from 15 artists, showcasing the many ways language can be spoken, remembered, embodied, and expressed.
The artwork highlighted languages from across the world — including English, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, German, Dutch, Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe), and Tatar — as well as nonverbal languages conveyed through nature, movement, data, and visual storytelling. Artists explored themes of heritage, migration, healing, resilience, and identity using a wide variety of media, such as digital painting, photography, calligraphy, acrylic on canvas, and more.
Students from across campus participated, representing five of UVU’s seven colleges, including programs like health sciences, emergency services, and theatre arts. UVU employees from Institutional Advancement and People and Culture also submitted their works of art, making the competition a truly cross‑campus celebration.
Community engagement played a key role in the event, with over 250 votes cast during two full days of public voting to help select this year’s winners.
Winners:
First Place: Alyx Rees (College of Humanities)
“Language” — Reflecting on how American English continues to evolve through cultural
exchange
Second Place: Isaac Dial (Woodbury School of Business)
“The Language of Healing” — Honoring Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) and Indigenous healing
traditions expressed through dance
Third Place: Sarah Allred (Emergency Services and Bachelor of Science Programs)
“Nature’s Language “— Exploring communication through sensory experience beyond sound
AI Art Category Winner:
Cristina Alves Morais (Woodbury School of Business)
“Daughter of Many Roots” — Inspired by Brazilian Portuguese and the layered histories
carried within language
Together, the submissions and stories shared this year offered a powerful reminder that language is not only spoken — it is felt, lived, and passed on, shaping who we are and how we connect with one another.
The competition served as a meaningful celebration of International Mother Language Day and the unique backgrounds that make up our UVU community.
First place: "Language" — Alyx Rees
Second place: "The Language of Healing" — Isaac Dial
Third place: "Nature's Language" — Sarah Allred
AI Art: "Daughter of Many Roots" — Cristina Alves Morais
Third region (Section 2)
