Category Archives: Controversial Art

A Brief History of Chocolate Jesus

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Victoria Emily Jones

Jesus and chocolate. I love both. So when I heard the song “Chocolate Jesus” for the first time last week (on a podcast about religious kitsch), it sounded yummy. The song is satirical, but as I listened to it, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Controversial Art, Jesus Kitsch, Music, Pop Culture | 1 Comment

The Homeless Jesus sculpture is at it again

Posted on February 28, 2014 by Victoria Emily Jones

Provoking discussion, that is. Last April I wrote about a sculpture by Timothy Schmalz that depicts Jesus as a homeless man on a street bench. Well, another cast of it has been purchased by and installed outside St. Alban’s Episcopal … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Art, Politics | Tagged homeless ministry | 1 Comment

Roundup: Dirty Jesus, Mother’s Day, spousal love, and Jesus in outer space

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Victoria Emily Jones

“Why a Wheaton College Professor Smeared Jesus in Human Dirt,” interview by Katelyn Beaty: Wheaton College art professor David J. P. Hooker purchased a five-foot-tall antique ceramic sculpture of Christ and affixed to it hair, skin cells, nail clippings, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Art, Inspirational, Jesus Kitsch | Tagged crucifix covered in dirt, david jp hooker, ian and larissa murphy, mother's day church service, praying for your spouse, this momentary marriage | 1 Comment

Homeless Jesus sculpture finds a home

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Victoria Emily Jones

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus tells his disciples that whenever they feed or clothe or do any kindness to those in need, they are really feeding and clothing and doing that kindness to him. Inspired by this passage, Canadian … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Art, Western Art | Tagged homeless ministry, image of christ | 6 Comments

What’s wrong with this picture?

Posted on October 29, 2012 by Victoria Emily Jones

In the book trailer below for Selling Water by the River, author Shane Hipps offers an analogy that seems lovely at first and does have some truth in it but which I believe is problematic in several ways. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Art, Theology | Tagged christianity isn't jesus's fault, jesus is like the wind, selling water by the river | 3 Comments

Jesus-on-a-Stick

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Victoria Emily Jones

Back in May, to celebrate New York Design Week, Gallery R’Pure hosted an exhibition called “Love It or Leave It.” Featuring the work of ten U.S.-based designers, the exhibition invited its audience to “revisit objects and symbols that have forged the … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Art | Tagged christian popsicles, jesus popsicles, love it or leave it, Sebastian Errazuriz | 5 Comments

Super Jesus and Friends

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Victoria Emily Jones

Italian artist Igor Scalisi Palminteri recently created a new art series titled Hagiographies. For this project, Palminteri purchased cheap Jesus and saint statuettes (and a framed painting) from the street markets of Palermo and transformed them into superheroes using acrylic … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Art, Jesus Kitsch, Pop Culture, Western Art | Tagged christian icons, hagiographies, Igor Scalisi Palminteri, original superman pillar, saint statues, superhero Jesus, superman jesus | 1 Comment

Top Christmas Ads of 2011

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Victoria Emily Jones

Every December, there are handfuls of churches and Christian organizations that put out advertisements to spark discussion about the true meaning of Christmas. Here are two from this year, both of which were unveiled last week and have gotten a … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Art | Tagged christmas starts with christ, churches advertising network, st. matthew in the city | Leave a comment

Dr. Seuss Bible

Posted on December 2, 2011 by Victoria Emily Jones

“Dr. Seuss Bible” is a sketch by the Canadian comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall, whose eponymous TV show aired late-night on three networks from 1989 to 1994. Even though CBC, HBO, and CBS all had rights to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Art, Jesus Kitsch | Tagged dave foley, gospel according to dr. seuss, kids in the hall | 2 Comments

Forbidden Art in Russia

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Victoria Emily Jones

This August, a court in central Russia banned this painting from all future exhibitions and publications, deeming it “religiously offensive” and “extremist.” This piece depicting Mickey Mouse delivering the Sermon on the Mount was part of a 2007 exhibition at … Continue reading →

Posted in Controversial Art | Tagged Alexander Savko, forbidden art 2006, mickey mouse jesus, Yury Samodurov | Leave a comment