Contemporary Christian Iconography: An Exploration of Controversy and Censorship

Abstract

Christian iconography has been a source of debate and controversy throughout history, challenging the boundaries of religious traditionalism, artistic expression, and cultural sensitivity. Different interpretations of the religion and different representations of its icons inevitably appear as time wears on. Straying far from the realistic works of the Renaissance, contemporary artists are now more than ever able to express their emotions, traumas, and opinions of Christianity through a wide variety of mediums and techniques. In the late 20th century, artists Andres Serrano, Renee Cox, and Chris Ofili externalized their visions into works that greatly disrupted the art world. Piss Christ (1987), Yo Mama’s Last Supper (1996), and The Holy Virgin Mary (1996) sparked such controversy in America that the preservation of artistic freedom was in question.