Contemporary art can often be unexpected or downright unsettling in its form and subject matter. In that, it may actually remind us of the startling actions and embodied metaphors employed by Old Testament prophets like Ezekiel and Isaiah. They intentionally disrupted their audiences for the purpose of calling them to repentance. By likewise reframing our discomfort with certain contemporary artworks as an invitation to self-examination, we open up new, generative possibilities. This lecture uses examples from the Art Institute of Chicago to explore how artworks might serve as a prompt to personal confession and a growing love for the God who loves us.

The views and opinions expressed in this lecture are those of the speaker(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Carl F.H. Henry Center for Theological Understanding or of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.