Artists

Bruce Hixson Smith

BRUCE HIXSON SMITH (1936–) is an emeritus professor of painting at Brigham Young University. Bruce is known for figure, still life, and religious iconography in his paintings and printmaking. His images represent the painstaking search to reconcile the physical medium of paint with the transcendent truths of Christ’s story. He currently lives in Utah with his wife, Mary, and continues to inspire many artists through his creative process and philosophy on the sacred nature of creating devotional art.

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Caitlin Connolly

Caitlin Connolly is an artist and writer. Since graduating in 2009 from the University of Utah with a BFA in Painting and Drawing she has passionately pursued and cultivated her creative path. Driven by a curiosity of femininity, her work explores the deficit of the divine feminine and paradoxical themes of duality.

Connolly currently lives and works in Provo, Utah, USA. with her husband and twin sons. https://www.caitlinconnolly.com/

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Amber Eldredge

I’m Amber Eldredge – the painter & mother behind The Color Amber!

I live in Orem, Utah with my husband, Parker, & our three darling girls. They are my greatest joys!

I am Utah-born & raised – and proud of it! I loved growing up surrounded by so many kind, creative people. I’ve learned so much about how to work hard & follow my passions by following their lead.

Ever since I can remember, I’ve had a paintbrush in hand. My biggest dream has always been to share my life through artwork, and now I get to do just that! I couldn’t feel more grateful or honored to know that so many strangers have opened their homes & hearts to my paintings. https://thecoloramber.me/

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Kwani Povi Winder

KWANI POVI WINDER explores her Santa Clara Pueblo Tewa heritage through painting and draws on her religious beliefs when portraying a native figure. Through her paintings, she seeks to preserve, share, and educate about her unique heritage.

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Ben Crowder

I’m happily married with wonderful kids and a lot of books. I’m also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

My interests include reading (particularly history, social justice, science, tech, publishing, and sf&f), typesetting/bookmaking, design, writing, art, coding, languages (particularly dead ones), genealogy, and geography/cartography.

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Melissa Tshikamba

https://tshikamba.com/

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Richard Lasisi Olagunju

The first words of the Book of Mormon situate the primary narrator, Nephi, in the social context of his family. This legacy will have rippling consequences throughout the rest of the book. Olagunju’s beaded artwork is intended as a belief in the divine role of parents and the global need for kind and consistent family.

The intricate beadwork includes a border of patterns found in Yoruba textiles. Both figures wear a dashiki, a colorful garment with embroidered collars found across Africa and the African diaspora. The twelve braids of hair represent the twelve tribes of Israel, an unusual and forceful symbol for a female figure. By interweaving Book of Mormon references and West African cultural symbols, Olagunju makes a beautiful statement about what is intrinsically divine.

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