Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs on reclaiming sacred art

Ignatius Press Podcast

Is beautiful sacred art a thing of the past? Is it impossible for contemporary artists to inspire the kind of reverence and devotion for sacred subjects that the artworks of great masters have done for centuries?

The Catholic Home Gallery is an answer to these questions—a collection of eighteen artworks by contemporary artists that embody the richness of the Catholic artistic tradition with fresh creativity and insight. Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs, one of the nine artists featured in the book and our guest for this episode, is passionate in her belief that not only is it possible to regain the wisdom and skills of previous centuries of sacred artists—many of which have been lost or sorely neglected in recent times—but that there is an urgent need to do so in the Church today.

In her conversation with host Andrew Petiprin, Thompson-Briggs discusses why sacred art should not be considered a luxury item or reserved only for a privileged elite, but should rather be incorporated into the spiritual formation and life of every Christian. She also talks about her own work as an artist, the importance of bringing sacred art into the home, and some of the other artists working today whose work she admires.

• The Catholic Home Gallery: Eighteen Works of Art by Contemporary Catholic Artists
• Explore the art of Gwyneth Thompson-Briggs
• Catholic Artists Directory