Devotion: Religion and the Arts in the People’s Collection (resource)

Devotion draws on material culture and works of art from across the People’s Collection to explore ways in which human creativity has enhanced spirituality, ritual, and their diverse expressions across time and place. The objects on view convey the power of art to shape religious and spiritual experiences: to focus our attention, to awaken our senses, to engage the body, and to connect us with the divine or supernatural.

The theme of devotion is reflected across the People’s Collection, particularly in the ancient American, African, European, and Judaic collections. Devotion highlights these collections and the incredible variety of forms of religious and spiritual expression in cultures across the world—from organized religions and communal practices to individual faith and beliefs.

In organizing Devotion the NCMA acknowledges that these objects are not merely artifacts but powerful conduits that retain strong personal, sacred, and cultural resonance for many people.

The NCMA honors the significance of these objects as sacred to those who have used, or continue to use, similar items in their spiritual, religious, or cultural lives. Devotion intends to foster a sense of connection and belonging within the Museum’s walls by exploring the many ways the arts are invoked in the shared human phenomenon of spiritual belief and religion.

Sean P. Burrus

Curator of Judaic Art

Ángel González López

Research Fellow for Ancient American Collection