Jonathan Anderson
The Invisibility of Religion in Contemporary Art
University of Notre Dame Press | 2025
FSA Visionary, Jonathan Anderson’s new book, The Invisibility of Religion in Contemporary Art (University of Notre Dame Press, 2025), offers a critical examination of the often-overlooked presence of religion within the discourse of contemporary art. Building upon his previous writing, Anderson challenges the prevailing notion that religion is irrelevant to modern and contemporary art. He argues that the general absence of religion in art historical narratives is not due to its insignificance but rather to a lack of sustained dialogues that bridge both art and religious studies. By engaging with the works of leading art historians, theologians, philosophers, and sociologists, Anderson uncovers the theological grammars and concepts that have been integral to modern and contemporary art. Additionally, he addresses the fragmented and underdeveloped scholarship at the intersection of art and religion in order to create new methodologies for understanding and engaging with spiritual art. Anderson’s book encourages a more integrated approach to interpreting art through theological lenses.
About Jonathan Anderson:
Dr. Jonathan A. Anderson is the Eugene and Jan Peterson Associate Professor of Theology and the Arts at Regent College (Vancouver, BC). His scholarship explores the interrelations of art history, theology, and religious studies, with a particular focus on modern and contemporary art.
Select Images
Kris Martin, “Altar” (installation view), 2014. Steel.
Andrea Büttner, “Vogelpredigt (sermon to the birds),” 2010. Woodcut.
Tacita Dean, “Casus,” 2022. Chalk on blackboard paint on paper.
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