Encountering the Spiritual in Contemporary Art

Curator Fanning (Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO) brings spiritual experience into the discussion of contemporary art by looking at works from 1980-present that combine aesthetic appeal with spiritual content. Acknowledging that the term spiritual is subjective, the author states that for her, it's not about religion but art's ability to connect viewers with something larger than themselves. Art is well suited for this because it conveys meaning what often can't be put into words. In eight scholarly essays, a range of experts discuss the spiritual in contemporary and abstract art; works by First Nations/Native American, Australian Aboriginal, and African artists; works related to Sufism and the Judeo-Christian tradition; and the balancing of art and life. Among the longer essays are four short pieces on how artists, art materials, and spiritual content interact. The text can be challenging but will reward close reading. The large-format size includes 150 color illustrations and presents 108 works in a range of media, including many art installations and performance works.