Biblical Art in a Secular Century explores the work of 20th-century artists-household names like Marc Chagall, Kiki Smith, and Jeff Koons among them-who found the visual heritage, themes, and devotional practices of the Judeo-Christian tradition to be rich ground for creative exploration.

The exhibition, drawn from the collections of museums internationally, sketches a framework for the various ways in which artists have mined this tradition, whether as an act of faith; a search for identity; out of intellectual curiosity; in service of a commission; or for other reasons less well-defined. Themes such as biblical suffering as metaphor for contemporary grief and social disease; churches as patrons of art; cultural/religious identity; and positions vis-a-vis organized religion will be investigated. The exhibition and an accompanying symposium, which will broaden the contextual analysis, are intended as a point of entry into the varied discussion of art and religion in the twentieth century.

Support for Biblical Art in a Secular Century is provided in part through public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a State Agency.