In this article we will be looking at the question, what does it mean to be both a faithful Christian, whilst doing well in our creative degrees?
Holding 'good Artist' and 'faithful Christian' together isn't always as easy. On one hand, we might ask ourselves - 'if I’m a Christian, gifted with some creative skillset, does that mean I need to make work that’s different from my course mates, work that explores my faith explicitly? Am I called to make work for the church context? Creating only 'Christian' content?'
Perhaps that is what people in your church expect you to be doing, and you feel under pressure to emphasise the Christian part of the term ‘Christian artist’.
On the other hand, we can be terrified of any association with the ideas that might fly around the term ‘Christian artist/designer’, reluctant to be pigeonholed or deemed irrelevant in the work we are making. We worry that our lecturers won't be too impressed if they find out we are Christians and are concerned that exploring our faith in our work will compromise our grades and move us to the fringes. We might feel under pressure to emphasise the artist part of the term ‘Christian artist’
But is there a way of holding the both together? Can we be a person living for Christ in the creative subject God has placed us in, whilst simultaneously being taken seriously as someone in the arts?
Discussion/reflection question: What is your first impression, is there such thing as a 'Christian artist'?
Some ideas that come to mind when we think of the term Christian artist are pastel paintings of cute crosses, angelic hands reaching out from the clouds, utopian landscapes that show a perfect world without sin, or paintings of a serene Jesus telling you how much He loves you. That is at least what comes up upon a quick web search of the term 'Christian artist'.
However, we do a great disservice to ourselves as creatives if we think the only thing that Christian artists have to offer is cute and kitsch art that separates itself from contemporary conversations and needs to prove its value by acting as a visual sermon. Is there no other way to boldly exist as a Christian in the arts world whilst simultaneously offering work that enters into mainstream thinking and conversation.
Christian artist, you don't have to...
...just paint Jesus
Yes, we love Jesus - He is great. But being a faithful Christian in the arts is not just about finding any and every opportunity to paint Him. God's vision for the arts is much greater than this. It is true that historically, paintings of Jesus and Biblical scenes have helped to enrich worship and meditation on scripture. Shows like the Chosen or beautiful stain glass windows can richly communicate the Gospel in new and inspiring ways. But we underestimate the power of the arts if we think that this is the only way to show people Christ!
...fit into a 'Christian' box
When you speak the words ‘Christian artist’ there is a reason why people might jump to kitsch images of Jesus and crosses in their imaginations. That is because we as Christians in recent history have withdrawn into a 'Christian box' - seeking to separate ourselves culturally from those 'out there in the world'. But as much as we might try to, we do not live in a world neatly divided into 'sacred' and 'secular'. Withdrawing to Christian subcultures does not make us holier or 'cleaner' but impoverishes us from participating in shaping the cultural landscape of our society.
...only focus on the happy things
We have a great message of hope as Christians and we want to share that – but sharing that hope does not mean we have to gloss over the suffering and the dark areas of reality. The opposite is true! At the heart of the Gospel is deep deep suffering and pain that God redeems to bring about a real and concrete hope beyond the difficulties we face in our lives now.
...just add Bible verses
Another temptation is to think that the best way to help our friends see our faith through our work is to add explicit references to the Bible in our work. We might title our work with Bible verses or add them somehow into what we do. This can work if we consider thoroughly the connections between scripture and our work – after all the Bible is rich and connects with all of life. However, we need to have more confidence that God can use our artwork to help us to share our faith even without the explicit addition of Bible verses.
...have a hidden agenda
We don’t expect chefs to spell out the Gospel with peas on a plate, nor mathematicians to sneak coded messages in their equations. Yet sometimes it is tempting to think that our art as Christians only has value if we smuggle a secret Gospel message into the work. This is not a requirement of a Christian artist. Thinking we have to smuggle through a hidden Christian message will instead likely impoverish our creative activity and turn our work into propaganda that will unlikely engage the imaginations of our audience.
...choose between being a Christian and being an artist
We don’t have to choose! In some ways, the premise of this article is a bit redundant. There is no such thing as a 'Christian artist' or a 'Christian Writer', 'Designer', 'Producer', or 'Architect', in the same way that we don’t really have ‘Christian medicine', 'Christian chefs', or 'Christian dentists’. There are simply people who follow Christ, and do those things - it's as simple and as freeing as that.
God has a big vision for the arts, which includes Christians working hard to be good at their creative practice, as well as seeking to follow Christ. To understand this we need a bigger view of God’s sovereignty over all of creation and to recognise that every part of life belongs to and speaks of God.
So let's explore what it might mean to be a Christian artist by looking at some excellent creatives that are exemplifying this already in what they do.
A different way...
...just paint Jesus Become Imitators of Christ
Wouldn’t it be amazing though if when people heard the term Christian ‘artist’ they didn’t think of painters of cringy white Jesus – but what came to mind was thoughtful creatives, diligent workers, generous friends, sacrificial coursemates, good listeners, and patient group members.
What if Christian artists and creatives weren’t predominantly known for depicting Christ with their artwork, but by showing Christ with their lives?
Michael Gough and Gary McIlwaine are Christians who set up a design agency in London called Sparks - they and their team actually met through an UCCF Arts Hub in London many years ago). Reflecting on the question – how does being a Christian shape your approach to running a design agency they share that:
even though we might not get a direct message about what it means to be a faithful Christian in the specific realm of arts – the Bible does have a lot to say about being good stewards, warnings about the pitfalls of money and advice on how to act with integrity. We are constantly challenged to be as rigorous with these principles along with our creative principles. There are constant temptations to be lazy, to be dishonourable, and to make the most of any opportunity to inflate your ego or profit margin… ‘ [1]
In Colossians 3 v 22 – 23 Paul calls all Christian workers not to work for the praise of others, but with ‘sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord – as though you weren’t working for humans at all but for the Lord!' That means working with integrity, not just focused on performing your creativity for the sake of praise or for your tutors or deadlines, but every task you do, big or small, is to be done for the Lord.
As we do this people will notice the difference. They will notice whether you come into the studios or lectures on time, they will notice that you’ve been a committed member of your team project, that you are generous around the studios, and they will see what it really means to be a Christian artist. This requires us as Christian creatives to make it our priority to be rooted in and walking with Christ.
...fit into a 'Christian' box Enjoy all of God's creation!
Christ declares in Colossians 1 v16 that all things were created in Christ; 'all things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together.’ When we look at any area of creation we see something that has been made in Christ and for Him – everything is under His mighty control and care and is being sustained by Him even today.
Abraham Kuyper has a really helpful quote that summarises this:
There is not a square inch in the whole of creation over which Christ, who is Sovereign overall, does not cry ‘MINE
We as creatives then are free to examine and explore all of creation in our creative practices – not just relegating ourselves to telling explicitly ‘Christian' stories.
Norman Stone, who is a Christian Double Emmy and BAFTA award-winning filmmaker puts it like this:
… I like to tell stories that have a lot of heart. Sometimes I tell stories that are closer to an overtly Christian message… but really I don’t want to be typecast as the Christian director. God is interested in all stories and the Christian involvement isn’t limited to stories about things that just seem Christian. [2]
As a Christian artist or creative, recognising the Lordship of Christ over all things means that you are not restricted to ‘Christian art or stories’ but can enjoy exploring all of creation and uncovering how everything ultimately points to Christ!
...only focus on the happy things Be rooted in reality
God in his word does not sugar coat it – humanity has rebelled against God and as a result life is dark and difficult. So, if we want to speak to people about real hope, we have to address the real suffering too.
Poet and former Relay Worker Leeza Awojobi is a great example of how to grapple with big and difficult questions like racism, sickness and oppression in her work whilst still providing a place of hope and love.
Leeza, who as a poet goes by eyesandoath says this:
I hope that people will feel seen in my work. The ‘eyes’ in eyesandoath refers directly to that. I observe the world around me and peer into my own soul in order to connect with others. My hope is that people listen to my work and ‘yes, that’s my experience of the world too’. This leads to love because it forms connection and combats isolation. The objective necessity of common human experience and the subjective necessity of fleshing out that experience is satisfied. [3]
For Leeza, an important part of being a Christian creative is to listen and connect with the real experiences of people. As she does this she opens up her own experiences of suffering so that others might feel heard and seen. By doing this she is enabled to build up real connections and conversations with her audience. As a Christian, in her life and in her poetry she can demonstrate powerfully what it means to grapple with suffering through eyes that are fixed on the hope of Christ.
Check out Leeza's website eyesandoath here
...just add Bible verses Be a lover of Biblical truth, goodness, and beauty
For our work to speak of the glory of God, we don’t need to superficially add Bible verses onto what we make. However, by growing in our own understanding and love of God’s Word, God will begin to shape our vision of the world around us. Psalm 19 assures us that ‘the heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them – yet their voices goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.'
God’s hand is at work and visible in all of creation, but in our fallenness, we do not naturally see it. We choose to ignore His hand over all things. However, as Christians who are growing in knowledge and love of God, we are being taught through His word and by His Spirit to see more and more of God at work in the world. So it makes sense that as we look at the world around us with redeemed eyes, and then go on to design, make art, perform, or write, our understanding of the truth, beauty and goodness that God has revealed to us will begin to seep into how we approach our work.
Chrisitian photographer Keiran Dodds shares how this works out in his practice:
I start by seeking first the kingdom in my personal life, intentionally turning to the Lord in wonder, love and praise. By saturating my mind, it filters into my behaviour and feelings, which then leak out into my work… In a sense, everything I do should be touched by this outpouring of faith. This will affect the subjects I choose to cover or the way in which I cover them. So the bats were to show beauty, the addicts to convey hope and dignity, to the worst of society and the Zimbabwean essays to communicate compassion to those who are hurting. [4]
We see here that Dodd's work doesn’t slap scripture superficially on top, but as God’s Word shapes him and his insights, he is able to draw out the wonder of God in the everyday. With Redeemed Vision, he reveals a new perspective to those who may not have otherwise had eyes to see it.
Check out Kerian Dodd discussing his latest project:
...have a hidden agenda Be a thought provoker
Art enables us to share new perspectives, and challenge dominant and harmful narratives in our societies that might otherwise be absorbed without thought. Art, in all its various forms, connects with people in ways that plain language can’t always.
Creatives are at the forefront of shaping the cultural imagination, through the design of buildings and products, the development of games, the organising of exhibitions, the making of clothing… all these things go into shaping the cultural landscape. So, we must take our roles seriously and recognise that the work of creatives is so important. If we substitute richness and imagination for a thinly veiled attempt at propaganda, or find ourselves content with 'kitsch', we are unlikely to become cultural leaders, but will be relegated to irrelevance. There are so many strong voices in our culture seeking to lead how our imaginations are shaped. As Christians we need to become strong voices that contribute new questions, new challenges, new perspectives and new hopes that bring people a richer view of reality.
Artist Lakwena is an excellent example of this. Lakwena's work is joy-filled, bold and concerned with future hope. She frames her work as prayers and meditations, often reappropriating texts from scripture, from songs, from everyday phrases.
Speaking of her work in an interview, and responding to a question about the spirituality and meditations on scripture present in her work Lakwena shares:
I come from a Christian background, so that's where I'm coming from personally. But I guess when I'm speaking, I'm trying to speak in a way that does not necessarily exclude people who don't come from that tradition. I think that there's this universal longing for paradise. Everyone really wants to be in paradise, right? It pops up in a lot of cultures globally and I think most people have some kind of concept of Eden, Paradise or Heaven. This form of thinking in my practice could be traced back to 2013 when I made this mural in Miami that said “I remember Paradise”. It was all about this idea that we all have inherently a sense that things must have gone wrong and that we have a memory or a longing for a perfect place where there’s no more pain, fear or death, you know? That’s what I’m trying to tap into with the work, I think I’m speaking very much about a future place, but I think that’s what I try and channel through the work. [5]
Her work speaks gently of Gospel truths. Her work explores the shared human experience of seeking hope and paradise, not as a hidden agenda, but as a way of opening conversations and new thinking. Her work is exhibited across the world and with groups like H&M and Mini in a way that she may not have had the opportunity to do if her work was mere propaganda. By playfully using text to provoke people's thinking, and doing so in a form that chimes into our contemporary desire for spectacular, instagrammable content, her work reaches the eyes and minds of many. She is not seeking to manipulate people's thinking with hidden agendas but demonstrates the power of language, of 'the word', to shape and provoke our thinking.
Find out more about Lakwena's work here.
...choose between being a Christian and being an artist Celebrate your faith and your creativity
God loves creativity! In Genesis 1, on the first page of the Bible, we are introduced to a Creator God who speaks all of creation into being by His Word. As He creates, He orders and designs, He brings colour and complexity, He creates with richness and diversity. Then, He gives us the capacity as human beings to recognise and delight in all the fine details of His creation.
Creating humanity in His image, God invites His people to share in His creative work, handing us a responsibility to care for and work in the world He has made. It is not difficult to see the ways that we have messed this calling up, but God is patient and still allows us to exercise the privileged task of caring for His world. Central to this calling is to exercise creativity. In Genesis 1 and 2 we see God calling Adam and Eve to be 'fruitful', to cultivate the land, and to use language to shape the order and understanding of living beings. All of these jobs laid out to Adam and Eve require imagination, skill, craft, and creativity.
Artist and founder of Morphe Arts, Ally Gordon puts it like this:
Creativity is more than just a gift from God to enrich our lives and bless the world around us. Creativity is a mandate for all humans. When we are not creative something is lost in how we relate to God and to one another and how we enjoy the world. [6]
Ally highlights that creativity is central to how humans relate to each other, to the world around us and even to God Himself. Exercising your creativity full-time as an artist is not you prioritising a second-rate activity at the detriment of your calling as a Christian. Exercising your creative gifts is about honouring God's invitation to work in His creation. Specifically, creatives have a vital role in engaging our imaginations, offering fresh perspectives on God's creation, lamenting where things have gone wrong, helping us to connect with each other and provoking a richer understanding of reality.
There is no separation between our Christian lives and our lives as artists. God calls us to work out what His Lordship means in every aspect of our lives. He cares that you are growing in your love for Him and that you are sharing the Gospel with others, but He also cares that you are doing good work as His stewards in creation by exercising the gifts He has given you as artists and creatives.
[1] Beyond Air Guitar, Ally Gordon (Interview with Michael Gough and Gary McIlwaine)
[2] Beyond Air Guitar, Ally Gordon (Interview with Norman Stone)
[3] https://eyesandoath.substack.com/p/love-and-creativity
[4] Beyond Air Guitar, Ally Gordon (Interview with Keiran Dodds)
[5] https://www.azeemamag.com/stories/lakwenas-visions-for-the-future