Amy E. Gray, an Ohio native, received her B.F.A in Illustration and Advertising from the Columbus College of Art and Design. She worked as a Graphic Editor for Wesley Mancini Ltd., a textile design studio in Charlotte, NC. While in Charlotte, she continued to work in silverpoint, an ancient drawing technique, gold leaf, and gouache on a variety of projects including commissions to do decorative work on musical instruments. Attention to detail and meaning have always been important elements to her work. After years of keeping art and church separate, the two came crashing together in the form of a commission to do the decorative work on a harpsichord for her church. That project had an enormous impact on all of the work that has followed. The idea of art as prayer and art as a large part of her spirituality were new to her. This experience propelled her to relocate to Washington, DC to study the relationship between religion and the arts at Wesley Theological Seminary.
Amy completed her Master of Theological Studies at Wesley Seminary with honors in 2011. In her thesis, Amy explored issues relating to making art that engages religious dialogue from the standpoint of an artist. Her questions included how to visually interpret scripture and theological constructs, issues of liturgical time, the Creation, the problem of kitsch in religious art, the challenge of visually encompassing the vastness of God, and what makes an image an idol instead of an icon. While studying at Wesley, she served as intern for the Henry Luce III Center for the Arts and Religion (LCAR), and as a Liturgical Designer for chapel services.
After graduating, Amy continued to work at LCAR first as the Program Administrator and Adjunct Faculty for the arts, later as the Associate Director and Assistant Faculty. While working for LCAR, Amy received her Master of Fine Art in Interdisciplinary Art at Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont. Her work at Goddard focused on the process of making as spiritual practice, while engaging issues of language, connection to the land, and the natural world.
Now focusing on her career as an artist, Amy’s work continues to engage questions about the relationship between ecology, theology, spiritual practice and art making.
For information on commissioning Amy to consult, design or create for sacred space or other projects, please use the form at left or email her at amy@amyegraystudio.com.
Some images are available for sale. Contact Amy for availability and pricing.
A