Saints and Syncretism

Saints and Syncretism in Global Christian Art

January 14–May 17, 2025

Curators’ Statement

Mariam Tiews ’25 and Lauren Carpenter ’26

Saints and Syncretism in Global Christian Art explores the cult of saints and its impact on visual culture through a phenomenon called syncretism, a process by which artists integrate diverse cultural forms, subjects and materials in creating meaningful works of art. Images of saints reflect innumerable local visual cultures around the world. As a pillar of Orthodox and Catholic Christianity, and a key element in the growth of the Church worldwide, the cult of saints represents humanity’s search for signs of the divine manifested on Earth. Since its origins in Late Antiquity, images of saints have always incorporated local visual traditions and customs as the cult of saints spread across the former Roman Empire, and then around the world. Reflecting the Church’s global reach, works selected for this special exhibition celebrating the museum’s tenth anniversary represent the many nationalities of canonized saints and their cultural traditions. Saints offer an avenue for ordinary believers to participate in the sanctity of God, while modeling a life imitating Christ. For the saints, their desire to live like Christ knows no bounds; many eschewed the comforts of the world to accept the sufferings of imprisonment, torture, and self-inflicted pain. Others attained sainthood through exceptional teachings and the spreading of the Gospel. Upon death, these people join the communion of saints where their heavenly lives as mediators begin. The saints intercede on behalf of faithful individuals who pray to them to appeal directly to Christ. All saints manifest their acceptance into heaven and enjoyment of the beatific vision through miracles, which is required for their official canonization in the Church. Additionally, saints physically bring people closer to God's miraculous and healing power through the very fragments of their bones and scraps of clothing, which act as conduits between heaven and earth. 

By exhibiting artworks representative of the cult of saints in global Christian art, it is our goal that understanding this enduring faith practice will connect with Hope College’s mission to educate students for a global society in the context of the Historic Christian faith. Saints and Syncretism celebrates depictions of saints in contemporary art and society and invites a new way of thinking about this ancient practice through the lens of global citizenship. Recognizing how these syncretic artworks are borne out of missionary and colonial expansion is paramount to understanding their place within the Church.

Research on this project began in the summer of 2024 through the Hope College Summer Research Program, and continued in the fall seminar in the Department of Art and Art History. We express our gratitude to the Al & Phyllis Bursma Summer Research Fund, the John H. Dryfhout '64 Internship Endowment, Charles Mason, Director of the Kruizenga Art Museum, Dr. Anne Heath, Professor of Art History, museum staff Alexandra Lewis and Brandi Bowman, and volunteer Natalie Schafer for making this exhibition possible. Works in the exhibition were made available through the generosity of the Sarah and Grace Collection, David Kamansky and Gerald Wheaton, Neal and Elizabeth Sobania, Joseph A. Baird, Ronald ’62 and Gerri Vander Molen, Lavina “Daisy” Hoogeveen, Dr. J. William Thomas and Dr. Carolyn P. Thomas and Armstrong De Graaf International Fine Art. The exhibition and catalog were produced by Gracie Allen ‘26, Signe Bieganski ‘27, Emma Brenny ‘25, Lauren Carpenter ‘26, Sophia Funston ‘25, Ashley Keltsch ‘25, Shannon Smith ‘26, Mariam Tiews ‘25, and Emma Waldvogel ‘26.

Image: Saint George Slaying the Dragon, Qes Adamu Tesfaw (Ethiopian, b. 1930) 1997. Paint on cloth. Hope College Collection, Gift of Neal and Elizabeth Sobania, 2018.25.4

View the Saints and Syncretism exhibition and related artworks in the KAM collection database Download the Saints and Syncretism in Global Christian Art exhibition catalog (PDF)