Mormon Artists
Mormon artists create works that shed light on differing understandings of their faith. While traditional Mormon art emphasizes realistic illustrations, some artists have taken to using symbols as an expressive medium in depicting divine concepts that transcend social constraints.
Mormons seem to be shifting towards an expansive image of Heavenly Mother that allows for various interpretations without making claims for completeness or supremacy. This new vision may signal that Mormons are beginning to dismantle their taboo surrounding feminine deities such as Heavenly Mother.
Christensen
Mormon art encompasses any visual work which depicts the principles and teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, such as paintings, sculptures, quilts or graphic arts that depict its principles or are inspired by an artist’s Latter Day Saint beliefs. This includes painting, sculptures quilts or graphic arts that feature these religious themes.
Some artists are directly affiliated with Mormonism while others practice secular forms of art without regard to any religious belief system. Examples include Truman Angell’s design for the Salt Lake Temple and Arnold Friberg’s illustrations for some reprints of the Book of Mormon.
Other Mormon artists focus on spiritual matters and personal experiences. Rose Datoc Dall is one of many Mormon artists exploring diversities in depictions of Jesus; some fellow Christians may object, yet this trend shows just how far the church has come in accepting people of different backgrounds.
Piercy
Marge Piercy was raised in a working-class family. With an affinity for Judaism and Jewish Renewal, she writes of modern life’s difficulties for women and families in society today. Author of over twenty volumes of poetry as well as several novels, plays and nonfiction works; currently living in Massachusetts together with husband Ira Wood where together they manage Leapfrog Press.
In 1853, Piercy set out on a journey from Liverpool to Utah, with the intention of drawing its route and turning them into engravings. However, his project proved much larger than anticipated: portraits of Mormon leaders and others using daguerreotypes were made as well as writing an account of his travels that was published over 15 parts starting July of 1854 – these works remain invaluable sources for western Americana research today.
Armitage
When asked to select their favorite Mormon artwork, most Latter-day Saints tend to name Arnold Friberg’s giant characters and epic scenes from the Book of Mormon as their preferred piece. Others might refer to Minerva Teichert’s paintings depicting vibrant Books of Mormon narratives from the latter half of the twentieth century as favorites.
Armitage created this painting using fine lines and textures that recall bark cloth. The surface is marred by uneven paint layers and holes, and its texture suggests that pieces of cloth were stitched onto it rather than painted directly on its canvas surface.
This work by Held shows his concern over the erosion of Indigenous cultures in the US due to American deception and US Army massacres, while alluding to mind-altering effects such as inhaling vape vapor like drugs; its savagery serves as a reminder of missionaries entering unevangelized territories where danger lurks for them – unlike McGahey and Christensen who relied on heroic imagery to convey drama of events like this one.
Friberg
He is best-known for his 1975 masterpiece “Prayer at Valley Forge” as well as for his paintings of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and American West, producing nearly 300 representative Mounties pictures over 42 years. On Centennial of HRH Prince Charles he even received a commission to create his lifesize portrait which now stands in Buckingham Palace.
He was born in Winnetka, Illinois to a Swedish father and Norwegian mother who converted to Mormonism during childhood. Beginning to draw cartoons at three years old and enrolling at Chicago Academy of Fine Arts as an art student.
He consulted Church leaders for historical, doctrinal, and archeological guidance as well as models for some scenes; their opinions varied. Friberg ultimately decided to grow out his beard and hair in order to more deeply comprehend how prophets felt while depicted them.