Spirituality has long been a touchstone for artistic subject matter, from the sacred images of the Renaissance to the cosmic explorations of contemporary digital artists. Across cultures and epochs, artists have sought to convey the transcendent, the mystical, and the divine through their work. In this article, we will explore the evolution of spiritual and cosmic themes in art, from the Renaissance to the present.
During the Renaissance (the 14th-17th century, generally), artists not only sought to create anatomical and perspectival accuracy, but to also display the beauty of the human form and the natural world. They also drew inspiration from classical mythology and Christian iconography to create works that spoke to the divine. One of the most famous examples of Renaissance spirituality in art is Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling. The frescoes depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments, including the creation of Adam and the Last Judgment, and are considered one of the greatest achievements in Western art.
The Baroque period saw a shift towards a more emotional, theatrical style of art. Baroque artists often used dramatic lighting and exaggerated forms to convey intense spiritual experiences. The Spanish painter Francisco de Zurbarán, for example, is known for his religious paintings, which often feature stark contrasts between light and dark and elements of emotional depth and turmoil.
In the 19th century, the Romantic movement embraced the idea of the sublime, the awe-inspiring power of nature and the cosmos. Artists like William Blake, Caspar David Friedrich, and J.M.W. Turner created works that celebrated the beauty and mystery of the natural world, often imbued with spiritual symbolism. Blake’s visionary poetry and mystical illustrations, for example, drew on Christian, Eastern, and Hermetic traditions to convey a sense of cosmic unity and transcendence.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, two visionary female artists, Georgiana Houghton and Hilma af Klint, created works that were both ahead of their time and deeply spiritual in nature. Houghton was a British artist who, in the 1860s, began to produce automatic drawings, which she claimed were guided by spirits. Her watercolors and colored pencil drawings are intricate and delicate, featuring intricate geometric patterns and floral motifs. Houghton’s work was largely ignored during her lifetime but has recently been rediscovered and celebrated for its otherworldly beauty and visionary qualities.
Hilma af Klint was a Swedish artist who, in the early 1900s, began to create large-scale abstract paintings that she claimed were channeled from a spiritual realm. Her works, which feature vibrant colors and geometric shapes, anticipate the abstract art of the 20th century by several decades. Like Houghton, af Klint’s work was largely ignored during her lifetime but has since been recognized as groundbreaking and influential.
In the 20th century, modern art movements like Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, and Minimalism continued to explore spiritual and cosmic themes in new and innovative ways. The Surrealists, led by Salvador Dalí and René Magritte, used dreamlike imagery to explore the unconscious mind and the irrational forces of the universe. Abstract Expressionists like Jackson Pollock and Mark Rothko used color and gesture to convey the sublime, often drawing on mystical and spiritual traditions from around the world. Minimalist artists like Donald Judd and Dan Flavin, meanwhile, used simple geometric forms and industrial materials to create immersive installations that invited viewers to contemplate the nature of space and the cosmos.
In the contemporary art world, spirituality and cosmic themes continue to be explored in a range of media and styles. Some artists, like James Turrell and Olafur Eliasson, create immersive installations that play with light and perception, inviting viewers to experience a sense of transcendence and awe. Others, like Yayoi Kusama and Takashi Murakami, use vibrant colors and playful imagery to explore themes of infinity and interconnectedness. Still others, like Anish Kapoor and Shirin Neshat, draw on their cultural and spiritual backgrounds to create works that speak to the intricacies of identity and the human experience.
As contemporary artists move online, spiritual subject matter has followed suit. Lindsay Kokoska, also known as Infinite Mantra, creates digital worlds infused with celestial, mystical, and esoteric themes. Kokoska’s practice is driven by a deep curiosity for the world her, as well as her own spiritual practices. Her work plays with shape and light, texture, and negative space. By blending animation with AI art technology and fine-art composition, Kokoska ultimately creates dynamic, yet balanced dreamscapes. Kokoska has studied at the Toronto School of Art as well as independent studies of abstract art in Bali, Indonesia. Kokoska’s work invites viewers into her astral dreamscapes and encourages them to look inward, finding their own connections between spiritual and material experiences.
From the Renaissance to the present day, spirituality and cosmic themes have been a constant presence in the world of art. Whether through sacred iconography, sublime landscapes, abstract forms, or immersive installations, artists have sought to convey the ineffable, the transcendent, and the divine through their work. As artists begin to explore the capabilities of the digital realm, we can expect to see an increased focus on the spiritual and psychological extensions of new technologies.
You can purchase Lindsay Kokoska’s works on May 18th on LiveArt here.
