Befriending Wilderness Symposium

Many artists know the realities of isolation, rejection, and uncertainty. Yet in Scripture, the wilderness is not only a place of hardship—it is also a place of surrender, renewal, and transformation. Befriending Wilderness invites Christian artists to reflect on these seasons through the lens of the biblical story, exploring how Christ’s call into the wilderness can shape and sustain creative practice.

Led by faculty and alumni from Biola University and Wheaton College, this gathering will bring together artists across generations for conversation, reflection, and community. The event will conclude with a lecture by Jonathan Anderson, Associate Professor of Theology and the Arts at Regent College and author of The Invisibility of Religion in Contemporary Art. Registration is free. Programming runs from 1:00–5:00 PM and will be followed by a public reception.

This event is made possible by the The Creative Arts Collective for Christian Life & Faith and by the generosity of donors to the Center for Christianity, Culture and the Arts at Biola University.

Info: Panel presentation and collaborative discussion.

Info: The event will culminate in a lecture by Dr. Jonathan Anderson, Biola alumnus and Associate Professor of Theology and the Arts at Regent College, whose recent book The Invisibility of Religion in Contemporary Art (Notre Dame, 2025) illuminates the landscape of religion and contemporary art in a way that is both timely and relevant to practicing artists of all stripes.

Info: Join us for a time of conversation and community in the Bardwell Project Space and Green Art Gallery. Continue the discussion, connect with others, and enjoy light refreshments together.

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Host or Publisher Center for Christianity, Culture & the Arts