Iconography-Inspired Sacred Art

On these pages you'll find stylized representations of holy figures that draw on the methods and techniques of traditional iconography. Some of the women here consider themselves traditional iconographers, who have taken the practice into the twenty-first century. They might represent holy figures who are yet to be recognized by the Church, but have nonetheless occupied an important, inspirational place in female, Christian, or minority communities. Perhaps they have found a way to apply acrylic - a medium that didn't exist in the early Church - in a manner that replicates the effect of egg tempera. Or they might use traditional methods to depict figures that are recognized by the Church, while drawing on techniques that are more modern and realistic - making use of Renaissance perspective and depicting facial features as they would appear in the physical world.

Like traditional iconographers, the artists here want to draw you into an encounter with a holy subject whom they regard as a spiritual leader or exemplar. Some of them see themselves as radicals who deliberately break with tradition to make a space for women in sacred art and sacred history. Others see themselves as extending iconographic traditions using twenty-first century artistic and theological developments under the premise that all artforms and belief-stems evolve over time. In their eyes, innovations and advancements allow iconography to remain a living and enduring form of sacred art.