Mormon Artists Explore New Trends

Mormon artists traditionally employed art to depict biblical and Book of Mormon scenes as well as LDS history, but recent trends have opened up opportunities for them to experiment with various styles and subject matters.

One such art piece depicting Heavenly Mother in her cultural setting would be Kwani Povi Winder’s Welcome Home by Santa Clara Pueblo Indian artist Kwani Povi Winder from Santa Clara Pueblo Indian art. Kwani’s Welcome Home (fig 5) depicts her with a halo made up of circles, angles and swirls that incorporates Pueblo as well as LDS temple symbols (see fig 5).

C.C.A. Christensen

Heather Ruttan’s Equal in Might and Glory breaks from traditional images of deity found in Mormon art by depicting Heavenly Father and Mother as exact equals, breaking with conventional depictions of deities found within its boundaries.

This piece incorporates an artistic style from its time period: 17th-Century Dutch Golden Age. Other Mormon artists who have taken this approach to incorporate historical styles in their work are Minerva Teichert and Arnold Friberg.

Carl Christian Anton Christensen (1831-1912) was a Danish artist who converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1850 and relocated to Utah. Christensen became famous for his Mormon Panorama paintings depicting its history; additionally he served on three missions in Scandinavia and translated many hymns into Danish for translation purposes.

Frederick Piercy

Frederick Piercy was born in Portsea, Hampshire, England and joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in 1848. Two years later he married Angelina Hawkins who also was part of LDS church; eventually traveling together to Utah together in 1853.

He was asked to draw scenes along the journey as part of an effort to encourage Mormons to emigrate to Utah, which have since been published in his book: Route from Liverpool to Great Salt Lake Valley: Illustrated.

Piercy included several drawings of the room where Joseph and Hyrum Smith were imprisoned, as well as watercolor paintings of Loup Fork Ferry and graphite drawings of ancient bluff ruins. Furthermore, his work contains a short travel narrative; according to Fawn Brodie it “maintains a quiet detachment from Mormon issues”, being recognized culturally through its inclusion in several books on Mormon emigration.

Minerva Teichert

She painted Western and Latter-day Saint themes, such as scenes from the Book of Mormon. Teichert was born in Ogden and trained both in Chicago and New York City.

Art helped her rise to prominence in Utah. She won first prize at a church art contest and was also invited to paint a temple mural, pioneering women painters as they do so.

Teichert was also a dedicated wife, mother, and rancher who valued family over fame and fortune. Her life story illustrates this value; when sitting at her canvas talking with it she would always get back a response. According to family she was an expert storyteller. Additionally she was active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints serving various positions while contributing her tithing.

LeConte Stewart

Stewart was raised in Glenwood, Utah and attended the U of Utah from 1912-14, studying art with summer classes at both Art Students League Woodstock New York and Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Additionally he taught art in several Utah schools before eventually becoming chairman of its Art Department. Stewart became best-known for his oil landscapes of rural Utah as well as mural painting, portraiture drawing etching lithography pastel work; “he was prolific in all media,” says Ed Maryon BFA’52 MFA’56 who serves as Director Development at Layton Heritage Museum as well as being an avid collector of Stewart paintings.

He donated many of them to Kaysville Gallery of Art in Utah, which will exhibit them along with works by other Utah artists in 2011. Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA) also plans an exhibit of Stewart’s works for fall 2011 – hoping to bring some of his collection into their gallery space.

Arnold Friberg

Arnold Friberg is widely revered for his paintings depicting iconic Book of Mormon events such as Jesus’s visitation or Captain Moroni leading his people in battle, bringing these powerful biblical tales vividly to life and leading viewers to reflect on their spiritual meaning.

Friberg was born in Winnetka, Illinois to a Swedish father and Norwegian mother. At three, his family moved to Phoenix, Arizona; at seven he began creating cartoons.

He gained recognition as both a commercial artist and illustrator. Additionally, he served as designer for Cecil B. DeMille on his film version of The Ten Commandments; producing 15 paintings as pictorial bases for its scenes, characters and costumes.