Kirby Laing Biography: First Draft Complete
January 19, 2026
The spheres of art, work and theology too often operate in isolation and with mutual suspicion. Although much visual art insightfully portrays human labour, such works are often neglected in Christian thinking about art. As a result, rich opportunities for understanding human vocation, dignity and creativity are routinely overlooked. The aim of this project is to examine how artistic depictions of work and rest intersect with biblical themes and the lived realities of contemporary labour. We hope it will inspire fresh theological insight and reduce the marginalisation between these domains.
Primary Discipline(s): The arts, business, economics, work and theology.
Base Community: ArtWay (Arts Fellowship)
Leader: Peter Heslam
Primary Author(s): Peter Heslam
Collaborators: A group of experts in the arts has been invited to collaborate in a supporting role.
Acknowledgements: TBC
Partner Organisations: None
Funding: Funding has been pledged.
Problem: Art, work and theology generally operate in silos. There are relatively few attempts to bring them together in a creative dialogue that will help all three of these spheres to be enriched and thrive. Mutual suspicion and marginalisation abound.
One of the ironies of this situation is that there are countless works of art (especially in the visual arts) that depict human beings at work; and that those depictions often reveal, and help elucidate, profound theological truths.
In the rare instances when theologians and other Christian academics give serious and sustained attention to the arts, it is generally to art that is explicitly religious in content. Notable examples are Christian Art (https://christian.art/) and The Visual Commentary on Scripture (https://thevcs.org/).
While it is good to celebrate and promote explicitly religious art, Christian scholarship should not neglect the rich theological insight that can be gained from considering art that has no explicitly religious content or points of reference.
Process: ArtWay has a long and distinguished tradition, built on the legacy of Hans Rookmaaker (1922-1977), professor of art history at the Free University of Amsterdam, of providing Christian reflection on visual art that includes ‘secular’ art. ArtWay’s UK host, KLC, also has a distinguished track record of engaging with the world outside the ‘religious’ sphere. KLC is, therefore, the natural home for the stated problem to be addressed.
The intention is to engage in primary research, and while we will explore new and existing research methodologies, we will draw most heavily on those used in art criticism, theology and business. The main focus will be on the study of art, human labour (of all kinds) and the Bible, especially art depicting work and (given the biblical Sabbath principle) rest, leisure and recreation.
Aims and Outcomes: This project is designed in the main to inspire and resource people who work. In doing so, we hope to help address the problems associated with the mutual suspicion and marginalization of art, work and theology.
This could inspire new interdisciplinary research fields, especially in the domain of theology of work. And an imaginative approach to the problem should increase an appreciation for the human processes (mental, neurological, behavioural, spiritual) involved when a human engages with a piece of art.
The aim is to produce a series of short online reflections, beginning with a series of seven reflections on seven artworks, to be hosted on ArtWay’s and KLC’s platforms.
Peter Heslam is leading a project in conjunction with KLC and ArtWay to explore the relationship between art, work and theology, especially ways in which these domains can be mutually enlightening.
If you have something to contribute to the following questions, email your thoughts to tota@kirbylaingcentre.co.uk.
When the team has a need for help or an area in which collaboration could be beneficial, their requests will be listed here.
Your contributions are greatly appreciated and are integral to our vision of collaborative, interdisciplinary research. We endeavor to acknowledge all the efforts of our collaborators and to give due credit, but note that we can’t guarantee that any contribution will be used in the final product.
If anyone has access to background information, documents, or key works that provide information about Kirby Laing, or to archives that may contain such information, please email ian.m.randall@gmail.com.
If anyone has access to background information, documents, or key works that provide information about Kirby Laing, or to archives that may contain such information, please email ian.m.randall@gmail.com.
When the team produces research components and additional resources that may be of public interest, these will be made available here.
