Arthur Aghajanian is a Christian contemplative, essayist, and educator whose work explores visual culture through a spiritual lens. After many years of study and practice in Eastern traditions, he found his way back to Christianity with the discovery of the mystical tradition. His work, which combines a passion for art history and the ongoing study of the great religious traditions, is committed to the idea that the study of images in both popular culture and art history through a contemplative lens provides support for those on the spiritual path. Holding multiple teaching credentials, Arthur has also applied innovative pedagogy as an art educator for over twenty years, designing a number of visual arts and mindfulness courses.
In this interview, Arthur covers a number of issues: what art is (and isn’t), the notable qualities of the artist, the role of art in worship, how art can transcend ideological boundaries, and, among other things, Arthur emphasizes the importance of recognizing and appreciating one’s gifts and pursuing them wholeheartedly in the face of societal pressures.
To learn more about Arthur, you can visit his website at imageandfaith.com.
Also, Arthur has a running podcast series with Radix that include his interviews with some top-notch thought leaders on art, visual culture, and religion. If you haven’t already, you might want to visit and hear some of the conversations he has with the likes of William Dyrness, Natalie Carnes, Peter Bouteneff, Wilson Yates, and others.