Professor Elliott Wise studies religious symbolism in art to strengthen his testimony of Christ.
On December 17, 2024, Brigham Young University News highlighted Associate Professor Elliott Wise’s (Eucharistic and Liturgical Imagery) lifelong fascination with religious symbolism in art, particularly on artwork that portrays the suffering Christ and his mother, Mary. In his last 15 years teaching a BYU, Wise has found that the more he deepens his understanding of religious artwork and instructs his students, he has come to believe that great art has the power to enrich and strengthen our spiritual lives.
As Wise explains, “Art is a mechanism of communication that transcends boundaries. A great piece of art can bring you closer to God in ways that words alone cannot.” He continues, “My faith and my love for art go hand in hand. Teaching art history at BYU allows me to share my passion for art and spirituality with students who can appreciate it on a deeper level.”
To learn more about Wise, visit his faculty profile or read University News’s article.