MFA Thesis Proposal

Beyond being an illustrator, I aspire to be a liturgical artist. The world that the contemporary Christian artist faces is one that is still reeling from the iconoclastic effects of Modernism. It generally believes that adhering to tradition is destructive to artistic innovation. This thesis will be an investigation into the various historical instances of iconoclasm in the church, the roles that tradition and innovation play in art for worship, and how these ideals can be positively applied to the present situation. The final part of the thesis, however, will be to propose, plan, design, and pitch an altar painting to the congregation of an actual church. This will put into practical effect all of the key issues dealt with in the thesis.