About Sandra Bowden

Visual artist Sandra Bowden has been interpreting Scripture and her own spiritual walk through mixed media for more than forty years. She has been acclaimed as one of the most unique, impressive and inspiring Christian artists in America. Bowden’s work has been featured in books, magazines and gallery shows across the United States, Canada, Italy and Jerusalem.

Her work fuses the vivid yet traditional imagery of the Old Testament – stone tablets and artifacts, Hebrew inscriptions, architectural depictions – with images of Christ’s passion, important music scores, and God’s natural creations. She has issued several series of artworks over the years: crucifixion scenes, artistic use of text and color, new interpretations of classic religious artwork, even altered books with applied textures and hues.

God’s grandeur and creativity shine through in each piece of her art. “My Christian faith has been the driving force behind my art,” Bowden says. “I look at the making of a piece of art as a kind of doxology, a prayer or conversation with God. I don’t mean this in any mystical way, but my ideas come out of my theology and thoughts about God. I am somewhat of a theologian, but one who translates those interpretations into visual form.”

Visual artist Sandra Bowden

Selected Solo Exhibitions

  • 2018: Reflecting the Glory, Gallery at St. Christopher’s, Chatham, MA
  • 2016: Reflections of Glory, Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA
    Conformed, Pepperdine University
    Past & Present: Gilded Treasures, University of Dayton, Dayton, OH
  • 2014: Art History 101: Icons of Western Art, Central College of Florida, Ocala, FL
    With Word and Song, Luther College, Decorah, IA, October
  • 2007: IKON and LOGOS: Exploring the Book Regent College, Vancouver, BC Canada
  • 2006: Illuminations, Signs of Life Gallery, Lawrence, KS
  • 2005: Icons & Logos: The Art of Sandra Bowden: 40 year Retrospective, Gordon College, Wenham, MA,
  • 2004: Word as Image, University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA
  • 2002: Via Crucis: The Way of the Cross, Instituto San Lodovico, Orvieto, Italy
  • 1998: Meditations Across Time, Visions Gallery Albany, NY
  • 1996: Word as Image, Bible Lands Museum. Jerusalem, Israel
  • 1990: Hillel, Rose Warner House, Cincinnati, OH 
  • 1985: Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
    Touchstone Gallery, Hendersonville, NC
  • 1984: Monroe Community College, Monroe, MI 
  • 1983: Illuminations, Center Galleries, Albany, NY 
  • 1981: Text and Textures, Kolbo Gallery, Boston, MA 
  • 1980: Gallery 3, Roanoke, VA
  • 1976: Private Gallery, Kensington, MD
  • 1973: Patmos Gallery, Toronto, Ontario
  • 1970: State University of New York at Cobleskill, Cobleskill, NY
  • 1966: Works by Sandra Bowden, Gordon College, Wenham, MA

Selected Group Exhibitions

  • 2018: The Beautiful, CIVA traveling exhibition opens Center Art Gallery, Grand Rapids, MI, January
    Veritas Academy Invitational, Lancaster, PA, First Prize for mixed media Reformation Altarpiece, April
  • 2017: Hospitality, Still Point Gallery, Atlanta, GA
  • 2016: Musicology: At Inspired by Music, Gallery Blink, Arlington, MA
    CRUCIFIXION    : Frederick S. Wight & Other 20th Century Artists, Gallery at St. Christopher’s, Chatham, MA     
  • 2015: Between Two Worlds, CIVA Conference, Grand Rapids, MI,
  • 2014: Deeply Rooted, Eric Dean Gallery, Wabash University, Crawfordsville, IN
    Come to the Table    , CIVA traveling exhibition, juror Cam Anderson
  • 2013: Sacred Voices, Canton Museum, of Art Canton, OH
  • 2012: Art + Fe, Auditorium, Boadilla del Monte (Traveling show for three years), Spain/Portugal
  • 2011: Bowden and Fujimura: Episodes, Davison Gallery, Roberts Wesleyan College, Rochester NY
    Lasting Impressions: A Printmaker Collects    , Webber Gallery, College of Central Florida, Ocala, FL
    Lasting Impressions: A Printmaker Collects    , Webber Gallery, College of Central Florida, Ocala, FL
    Contemporary Christian Abstraction    , VAM Gallery, Austin TX, September
    5 x 5 an Invitational    , Westmont Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA
  • 2010: The Book Re-Defined, Rivier College Art Gallery, Nashua, NH 
    Memories    , invitational, Cahoon Museum, Cotuit, MA
  • 2009: Bound: Artist’s Books, Ann Street Gallery, Newburgh, NY
    Art + Text: Images, Concepts and Insights    , Dadian Gallery, Washington, DC
  • 2008: Holy Theologian, National Museum of Art and History, New York
  • 2007: Body of Christ, Washington Theological Union, Washington DC
  • 2006: Dawn to Dawn: Journeys through Pain to Freedom, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Orange, CA
  • 2005: The Next Generation: Contemporary Expressions of Faith, Museum of Biblical Art, New York, NY
    Spirituality & Religion in a Modern World    , Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
  • 2003: Saint John’s Religious Art Festival, Saint John’s Lutheran Church, Sacramento, CA
    Visions VII    , Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, KY 
  • 2002: Wanderings: Journeys Toward Home, Genema Gallery, Atlanta, GA 
  • 2000: Like a Prayer: A Jewish and Christian Presence in Contemporary Art, Tryon Center for Visual Art, Charlotte, NC
    Anno Domini: Jesus Through the Centuries    , Provincial Museum of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
    Spirit Infused    , Salisbury State University, Salisbury, MD 
  • 1999: Passion of Christ: Sorrows of Mary, El Santuario de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, Santa Fe, NM
    Behold the Wood of the Cross    , Georgetown University, Washington, DC
  • 1998: Jubilee 2000, Art & Cultural Center, Fallbrook, CA
    Paper Plus: An Invitational    , Arts Center Gallery, Saratoga, NY 
  • 1997: Works on Paper VII, Shepherd College, Shepherdstown, WV
    Artists Books    , Oculus Gallery, Seattle, WA
    Second Annual Small Works Exhibition    , The Art Place Gallery, Chicago, IL 
  • 1996: XV Celebration of Art, Park Synagogue, Cleveland Heights, OH 
    Arte Sagrado    , Concordia College, Austin, TX  March
  • 1995: Sacred Arts XV, Billy Graham Center Museum, Wheaton, IL
  • 1994: A Testament of Art, Hampshire College, Amherst, MA  October
    Cosmos and Creation    , Queens College, Cambridge, England 
  • 1991: Sandra Bowden and Edward Knippers, Foxhall Gallery, Washington, DC
  • 1990: Christian Imagery in Contemporary Art, Albany Institute of Art, Albany, NY 
  • 1982: Einladung zur Vernissage, SB=Rahmen Gallery, München, Germany 
  • 1980: Elca London Gallery, Montreal, Canada 
  • 1978: Artists of the Mohawk-Hudson Region, Albany Institute of History and Art, Albany, NY
    22nd         Anniversary Exhibition of Painting and Sculpture, Berkshire Art Museum, Pittsfield, MA
  • 1970: Saratoga Performing Arts Center, Saratoga, NY

Selected Awards

  • 2017: Sola: Grace-Faith-Scripture, Good Shepherd Institute, Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN, First Prize
  • 2006: Printmakers of Cape Cod, Cape Cod Museum of Art, Dennis, MA, Honorable Mention
  • 2005: Spirituality & Religion in a Modern World, Honorable Mention, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
  • 2003: 21st Annual Christian Art Festival, Festival Award, Cross View Lutheran Church, Edina, MN
  • 2002: VI Annual Sacred Art Exhibition, Best of Show, Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association, Brunswick, GA
  • 1999: Visions V, Juror’s Award, Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, KY,
  • 1998: The Virgin Mary in Art, Juror’s Award, International Schoenstatt Center, Waukesha, WI
  • 1996: Arte Sagrado, Juror’s Commendation, Concordia College, Austin, TX
  • The Passover & Passed Over, First Prize for Book of Remembrance, Ashwell Gallery, Beverly, MA 
  • 1995: Sacred Arts XV, Third Prize for Law and Gospel, Billy Graham Center Museum, Wheaton, IL
  • 1990: Sacred Arts XI, Honorable Mention for Sanctus, Billy Graham Center Museum, Wheaton, IL2006: Printmakers of Cape Cod, Cape Cod Museum of Art, Dennis, MA, Honorable Mention
  • 2005: Spirituality & Religion in a Modern World, Honorable Mention, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
  • 2003: 21st Annual Christian Art Festival, Festival Award, Cross View Lutheran Church, Edina, MN
  • 2002: VI Annual Sacred Art Exhibition, Best of Show, Golden Isles Arts and Humanities Association, Brunswick, GA
  • 1999: Visions V, Juror’s Award, Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, Covington, KY,
  • 1998: The Virgin Mary in Art, Juror’s Award, International Schoenstatt Center, Waukesha, WI
  • 1996: Arte Sagrado, Juror’s Commendation, Concordia College, Austin, TX; The Passover & Passed Over, First Prize for Book of Remembrance, Ashwell Gallery, Beverly, MA 
  • 1995: Sacred Arts XV, Third Prize for Law and Gospel, Billy Graham Center Museum, Wheaton, IL
  • 1990: Sacred Arts XI, Honorable Mention for Sanctus, Billy Graham Center Museum, Wheaton, IL

Selected Public Art Collections

  • Vatican Museum of Contemporary Religious Art
  • Calvin College, Grand Rapids, MI
  • Duke University, Duke Divinity School, Durham, NC
  • Brauer Museum, Valparaiso, IN
  • Atwood Museum, Chatham, MA
  • Haifa Museum, Haifa Israel
  • Hebrew Union College, New York City
  • American Bible Society, Philadelphia, PA
  • Taylor University, Upland IN
  • International Business Machines,
  • Gordon College, Wenham, MA
  • General Electric Company

Selected Biography

  • 2017: Illuminating the Mystery - The Art of Sandra Bowden, Reformed Worship, No 124, Grand Rapids, June
  • 2014: Sandra Bowden: The Word in Art, Empire State College Alumni Magazine, Spring 2014,Saratoga, NY, feature article
  • 2011: Radix Magazine, Word and Image, vol 35, no 4, interview with Sandra Bowden
    Arte + Fe, Maria Tarruella Oriol, Departmento de Cultura, Jornada Mundial de la Juventud Madrid,catalog
  • 2010: Adult Bible Studies Illustrated, The Word as Art: A Conversation with Sandra Bowden, Winter 2009-10,
  • 2009: Synagogues in a Time of Change: Fragmentation and Diversity in Jewish Religious Movements, Zachary I. Heller, 2007 Lag och evangelium som tal om Gud, Tomas Nygren, Artos % Norma bokforlag, Skelleftea, Sweden
  • 2006: Boston College Magazine, Catholicism 101, Winter 2006, Cardinal Avery Dulles, Lachish reproduction
  • 2005: The Next Generation, Wm. B. Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, 2005, essayists: W. Roosa & P. Pongracz, exhibition catalog
    The Art of Sandra Bowden    , James Romaine, editor, Square Halo, Baltimore, MD
    IMAGE Journal, The Turbulent Word: Sandra Bowden’s Container Books, no. 47, by Terry Dempsey
  • 2004: The Cape Cod Voice: Approaching Religion in a Modern Context, Abraham Storer
    Cape Cod Chronicle, Sandra Bowden; A Visual Intellectual Journey, Elizabeth Van Wye, September 8, 2004
    Reluctant Partners: Art and Religion in Dialogue, edited by Ena Giurescu Heller, Museum of Biblical Art, NYC
    Why Jesus Died, Gerard S. Sloyan, Fortress Press, Minneapolis, MN, cover art,         It Is Finished
  • 2002: Objects of Grace: Conversations on Creativity and Faith, James Romaine, Square Halo Books, Baltimore, MD,
  • 2000: It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God, Square Halo Books, Baltimore, MD
  • 1999: Chicago Tribune, Judeo-Christian dialogue moves into world of art, Patrick T Reardon, March 30, 1999 review
    Catholic Standard, Crucifixion exhibit to at Georgetown, by Lynnea Pruzinsky
  • 1998: Christianity Today
  • The Word Became Art, Karen Mulder, February, essay

Selected Writings

  • 2017: Contemporary Art & the Church: A Conversation between Two Worlds, IVP, co-edited chapter with Marianne Lettieri
  • Collecting as a Calling, ARTWAY.EU, Netherlands, essay on collecting
  • 2016: SEEN Journal, Collect, vol XVI: 2, Minneapolis, MN, co-edited journal and wrote lead essay on collecting
  • Crucifixion by Frederick S. Wight, ARTWAY.eu
  • Journey to the Light of Easter, Alfred Manessier, ARTWAY.eu, Netherlands
  • 2015: Seeing the Unseen, Square Halo Books, Baltimore, MD, 2005, co-editor
  • 2012: Beauty Given by Grace: The Biblical Art of Sadao Watanabe, Square Halo Books, Baltimore MD, editor and essay
  • 2008: Vacation of the Artist, SEEN journal, Madison, WI
  • God’s Grandeur: the Arts and Imagination in Theology, David C Robinson, editor, College Theology Society
  • 2005: Faith and Vision, Square Halo Books, Baltimore, 2005 – co-editor
  • 2000: It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God, Square Halo Books, Baltimore, MD, foreword by Bowden

Selected Invited Guest Lectures

  • 2018: Marc Chagall and the Bible, Kairos Gallery, Mt. Pleasant, SC
  • 2017: Sadao Watanabe, Still Point Gallery, Alpharetta, GA
    Georges Rouault’s Miserere Series, Nasher Museum, Duke University, Durham, NC
    Most Highly Favored; Images of the Virgin Mary, Calvin Worship Symposium, Calvin College
  • 2015: ARTSCharlotte, Charlotte, NC, lecture on art
  • 2014: Georges Rouault as Graphic Artist, Mary Harden Baylor University
  • 2012: Sadao Watanabe, Calvin Symposium on Worship, Grand Rapids MI,
  • 2011: Georges Rouault as Graphic Artist, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, IL
  • 2007: Following the Work, College of the Ozarks, Point Overlook, MO
  • 2006: Quiet Renaissance: Artists of Faith for a New Century, Catholic Theology Society, Denver, CO
  • 2004: Collector’s Choice, St. Anselm College, Manchester, NH, lecture on collecting