OUR WHY:

Inspiration Made Tangible

Engage Art chases a vision where the power of the arts transforms our world. By showcasing original Scripture-inspired artwork, Engage Art empowers artists and art lovers to Engage Culture, Engage Scripture, and Engage Art.

"My faith is not what I write about or what I paint about, but it is the light by which I see.”

- Flannery O’Connor

  • Engage Culture
  • Engage Scripture
  • Engage Art
Engage Culture

If the main contribution that Christians make to culture is complaining about it, we’re doing something wrong.

- T.M. Moore, theologian, poet, and Principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe

Engaging in the arts means you engage with culture.

When you create art, your subject matter, aesthetic, genre, and point of view are a reflection of and a response to your own cultural experience. When you respond to art, you also bring your own point of view and lived experience with you.

All of the individual artworks being made by filmmakers, musicians, potters, and all the rest; all the museum collections and comic books; all the dance crazes, songs, poems, etc., they all get mashed together to create the culture we all get to live in.

In Culture Care, visual artist Makoto Fujimura says, “Culture is not a territory to be won or lost but a resource we are called to steward with care. Culture is a garden to be cultivated.” Engage Art is a new opportunity for you to work deeply in your art form to cultivate our collective culture.

Whether you’ve been making art for decades, or you’ve never done something like this before, Engage Art is a space for you to learn, explore, and reflect on the greatest Artist ever. Please join our artist group on Facebook to share your creative work and let our community of artists and art lovers enjoy your skill and creativity

Engage Scripture

“The Bible has been the single greatest source and influence for literature, painting, and music in the history of the world.”

— Frank E. Gaebelein

Practically Engaging With Scripture

Engage Art invites artists to approach Scripture as a source of creative inspiration. Some might find this focus unusual, even off-putting. It’s important to remember that artists have been creating art based on Scripture for centuries, and good vs. evil is the most often told story in the history of humankind.

Now is the time for this generation to contribute a fresh take on the depiction of the grand story shared in the Scripture. The themes are evergreen and provide fodder for a broad array of artistic response. And rest assured, when using Scripture as inspiration for artwork, you are in good company!

Who has Drawn Inspiration from Scripture?

Bach’s music was clearly about his deep and abiding faith, as were select pieces by Mozart. Bouguereau and Manet, both Catholic, created secular art mostly and are known as secular artists, but they also addressed scriptural themes. Many modern artists who came after them did, as well, including Chagall (Jewish), Dali (“Catholic without faith”), and Matisse (atheist).

The truth is that imagery and stories from Scripture have impacted art since before we started counting time. Overtly “Christian” art was prevalent in the Roman Empire when Christianity was still illegal. From the time that Rome fell until the 1700s, almost all European art was created by or for the Catholic Church. It was valuable to them. They could use it to help teach the masses, most of whom could not yet read. Art in the sanctuary was a precursor to modern storytelling, which is a powerful memory tool often captured on film (or cell phone video) today.

During the Renaissance, the Orthodox Church perfected the icon, while the West moved toward secular themes, often based in classical mythology. But by the 1800s, all those masterful paintings bankrolled by Rome transcended their original purpose—for worship and teaching—and began to be collected for art appreciation. Many of them fill the great museums of the world. Others have remained in cathedrals, making some of those houses of worship very similar to art museums in their look and patronage.

That was Then, This is Now

Art, culture and Scripture do not live in separate worlds. They co-exist together. Scripture has much to say about our culture and art. Our art and culture can also explore Scripture.

When the Cathedral of Notre Dame burned in April 2019, it was not just Catholics who were concerned to learn how the art had fared. The enormous collection of art housed within Notre Dame, all inspired by Scripture, evoked an outpouring of emotion from people across the globe.

Today, there are artists who have a significant impact on both the sacred and secular worlds. Makoto Fujimura is the founder of the International Arts Movement, and he was also the first artist in 500 years to be commissioned to illustrate the four Gospels.

Wherever you are in your spiritual life or as an artist, we invite you to follow in the great tradition of drawing artistic inspiration from the Christian Scriptures.

Scripture Resources for Art Lovers

We showcase Scripture-inspired artwork to illuminate, inform, and inspire the world—and hopefully, to support artists and art lovers in their spiritual journeys, as well! Wherever you are in your spiritual life or as an artist, we invite you to follow in the great tradition of drawing artistic inspiration from the Christian Scriptures. In addition to a Gallery with thousands of Scripture-inspired artworks, Engage Art offers: 

  • Monthly Bible Clusters via Facebook/Zoom
  • The free Engage Art App, filled with daily Scriptures and weekly Reflections for artists and art lovers
  • Many more free resources
Engage Art

“Through the history of the Christian church there runs a wide and roaring river of artistic glory, feeding believers and unbelievers alike.”

— N. D. Wilson

Nothing New Under the Sun

It’s not a new idea to use the arts to celebrate, praise God, or explore faith. Scripture tells us that the Children of Israel made music, sang, and danced after the victory over the Egyptians at the Red Sea. Exodus conveys that God wanted beautiful things for his Tabernacle—metalwork, fabric, tapestry, and architecture. Jesus was a first-rate storyteller. The Psalms are a songbook, and the Old Testament is full of poetry. Members of the early Christian Church drew a symbol of a fish to identify themselves and created frescoes in the catacombs under Rome. Even the first human, Adam, was instructed by God to create and tend a garden.

Creativity comes in many flavors, but we are all uniquely creative. We hope Engage Art can help foster a renewed connection between artists and the church.

Are you ready to Engage Art?