Although the Catholic Church and pop art may not share an intuitive connection to one another, Sister Corita Kent upended these expectations through her incredible art. While she eventually left the Catholic Church, much of her work contains references to religious writings and teachings. Her art often includes a significant amount of wording, ranging from texts from scripture to newspaper headlines to song lyrics.
This pop art (former) nun remains one of my all-time favorite artists, not only because of her fascinating life story but because her work truly aims to improve the state of the world. The 1960s, the era in which Kent made the majority of her serigraphs and prints, were filled with countless social movements. Her art never shies away from acknowledging this tumultuous, transformative era.
Despite being a pop art pioneer, Kent remains less widely known than some of her peers, such as Andy Warhol, whose name has become synonymous with the pop art movement. Now, Kent is finally receiving a small fraction of the public recognition and appreciation that she deserves. French fashion house Chloé recently released a limited edition collaboration with her estate, featuring some of her work on blouses, tote bags, and graphic tees. I was thrilled upon hearing this, and I can’t wait to wear an outfit that celebrates the incredible life of an equally incredible artist.
The timing of Kent’s newfound popularity is coincidental; I was sorting through my grandmother’s storage earlier this month and came across a stunning limited edition print by none other than Corita Kent. It even includes a letter from the artist to my grandmother written on the back. My grandmother owned an art gallery for many years, and as it turns out, she featured Kent’s work in her “Woman and Art” exhibition in 1981.
I initially learned about Kent’s life and work in an art history class that I took during my sophomore year of college, but I had never been able to see her work in person– until I discovered the aforementioned print.
As soon as the Corita Art Center reopens to the public, I cannot wait to finally visit. For now, I will be able to experience the liveliness of Kent’s art by looking at my grandmother’s print, which now hangs proudly on my wall.