PERSONAL STATEMENT

The intent to apply for a Christianity & the Arts MA at King’s College London

I am an art director, graphic designer, and photographer driven by empathy. My process is rooted in cultural/visual anthropology, which is understanding how humanity communicates with the world. This process has allowed me to work with brands of all scales in various industries, including tech, film and TV, fashion, religion, and hospitality.

At my childhood church, my pastor recognized my interest in graphic design. He fostered my creativity, and I began using this skill set for branding and marketing projects for the church. I spent most of my life there until after college, and eventually became part of one the world’s largest megachurches, with a desire to belong to a group of pioneers in the church community who created excellent content admired and replicated by other churches worldwide.

I’ve worked with one of the largest Catholic dioceses in America, and it was there that I gained a deeper understanding of the importance of spiritual practices and developed an appreciation for orthodoxy. This allowed me to see art in a more sacred and devotional light. It broadened my perspective beyond my contemporary church upbringing and instilled in me a desire to explore how the Christian church has historically viewed art.

In contrast, my experience in both branding and fashion that made me realize that the church was affected by the smoke-and-mirrors effects of consumerism has led the church into a capitalistic culture, using sales tactics and strategies to encourage the consumption of products and services: We purchase church-branded clothing, take part in expensive conferences, and buy books and music from celebrity Christians as a token of validation for having faith. I began to see that most of our touchpoints to art in more protestant/evangelical churches have been flashy, capitalistic marketing, and advertising. 

I am fully aware that my skillset is excellent for marketing—informing, educating, and communicating through graphic design—but I now desire to emphasize the significance of art and see it as a source of contemplation. My goal is to inspire people to rediscover the beauty and wonder of liminal spaces and reignite their sense of awe. This is not just a professional pursuit but a deeply personal and passionate one.

I have been working professionally for the past twelve years, and after some deep introspection, I have a growing desire to rediscover beauty, goodness, and truth—commonly known as the Transcendentals.

I intend to participate in the Christianity & the Arts Program at King’s College in London to gain a deeper academic understanding of the complex development of these concepts. This understanding can help the church rediscover its appreciation for art and its ability to express the intricacies of our world. 

This program will help equip me and the church with an understanding of society’s tendency to seek simple answers to complex issues like race, gender, economics, politics, and sex, and in addition, develop a more comprehensive theology for art and design in the church.

As I embark on this transformative journey to rediscover the beauty, goodness, and truth of art, I am seeking your support to help fund my participation in the Christianity & the Arts Program at King’s College in London. Your contribution will help me gain a deeper understanding of the significance of art in the Christian faith and equip me to inspire others to rediscover the wonder of liminal spaces and reignite their sense of awe. Your support is instrumental in this transformative process.