INSPIRE ME! Artist, Chris Koelle

"signals of truth, beauty, and goodness"
~ CHRIS KOELLE

"Call His Name Immanuel"

By Ernest Disney-Britton

When I first encountered the work of South Carolina artist Chris Koelle on Twitter, I was stunned. It was a video promotion for his "Book of Job," and I cried. I didn't cry just upon one viewing, but upon repeated viewings before I could even share it with anyone else. His imagery drove a path into my soul, and cracked open a piece of me. I am better as a result. Soon afterward, I was smiling with admiration as I watched him creating in his studio/home. To this day, I feel blessed to have met Chris Koelle. I know you will enjoy meeting him too: Chris Koelle, INSPIRE ME! Artist of Month.

Portrait of Chris Koelle by J. Aaron Greene

1. What is your faith tradition, and where did you develop into an artist who explores religion? I grew up in a very conservative church and school, from kindergarten through high school graduation, surrounded by fundamentalist religiosity. But it wasn't until my years in college and early years of marriage that I really began to grasp the greatness of the gospel of Christ, and he began to really arrest me. My wife and I just recently joined ourselves to a Presbyterian church body. My mother continually encouraged me to draw and make art since childhood, but I only started seriously exploring spiritual and Biblical themes while pursuing my M.A. in graduate school.



Crucified Christ from "History of Redemption"

2. How do you describe your art? Why style or genre is it? Some would say my graphic novel work is often stark, gritty, inspired by German Expressionism and film noir. Other times I work in a more abstract, ethereal way, letting lines meander in exploration, especially on album artwork, for example. Over the years, I’ve realized that taking chances and surprising myself in my work is something I really enjoy, specifically regarding the actual physical application of the pencil, ink, paint, pixels, and so on.



"The Book of Job"

3. Have you ever had to defend exploring religious themes? I don't recall ever having to defend religious themes in general, but often I've been asked about the specific meanings of symbols and ambiguity in my more Biblical / spiritual pieces.



"But the Serpent Said"

4. What do collectors say about your work? [From Twitter] "If I owned a house I'd commission @chriskoelle to paint a mural in every room. #maybeoneday" ~ @matt2thepatt; [and also] "An honor to have you doing [our album artwork]! It's fucking brilliant."  ~ @DagRosenqvist



"I Am Making All Things New"

5. Who would you like to collect your work? People who find in it value worth living with: signals of truth, beauty, and goodness 



"My Spirit Within You"

6. What other artists have influenced your style, or commitment? Jonathan Aumen. My wife Annie. Ingmar Bergman. Michelangelo. Leonard Baskin. Mauricio Lasansky. Jim Dine. Jason Shawn Alexander. Jillian Tamaki. William Blake. Andrei Rublev. Victor Vasnetsov. Barry Moser. Andrei Tarkovsky. Scott Tuma. Steve Reich. Sufjan Stevens. I could go on and on.



"The Fall and Expulsion from Garden of Eden"
(Sistine Chapel) by Michelangelo

7. Where can A&O readers find others like yourself? Probably by perusing through the fine folks I follow on Twitter.

In closing, I made my first purchase of a print by Chris Koelle this week on Etsy.com (You can too). I am also addicted to viewing his video, "JŌB", which is a transformative experience each time. I encourage you to find out more about the work of Chris Koelle because it's for Believers, but also Skeptics too. Are you ready to be the next A&O Artist of the Month? Are you ready to join this series of both contemporary American Religious Artists, as well as historical masters? Submit your nomination today!