Skip to main content

Querying the lives of saints

Members' talk and Q&A

Celebrate saints through a queer lens this Pride Month
Date
Thursday, 27 June 2024
Time
4 - 5 pm BST
Available online only
Audience
Members

About

The story of Saint Sebastian resonates with many queer communities. But what about Saint Francis of Assisi? Catherine of Alexandria? John the Baptist? What do we know about them and how have artists interpreted saints through their own interests, personal lives and contexts?

Medieval hagiography expert Alicia Spencer-Hall (she/they) and art educator Jon Sleigh (he/him) will explore trans and genderqueer identities in the lives of saints and their visual representations in art. In a conversation chaired by Art and Religion Fellow Siobhán Jolley (she/her), we will look at painted saints in our collection and beyond. 

Join the conversation and ask your own saintly questions at this online Members’ event.

Image: Detail from Guido Reni, 'Christ embracing Saint John the Baptist', about 1640

Speakers

Alicia Spencer-Hall (she/they) is an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at University College London. They are an expert in medieval hagiography, with a keen interest in interrogating the ways in which the medieval continues to inhabit the present, and vice versa. Her first monograph, 'Medieval Saints and Modern Screens: Divine Visions as Cinematic Experience' was published by Amsterdam University Press in 2018. 'Trans and Genderqueer Subjects in Medieval Hagiography', a collection co-edited with Blake Gutt, was published in 2021. Shortlisted for the Transgender Non-Fiction award at the 34th Lambda Literary Awards, the volume is now available Open Access. Their second monograph, 'Medieval Twitter', is forthcoming from Arc Humanities. 

Jon Sleigh (he/him) is a freelance Learning Curator, arts educator and art history writer. He works nationally as a specialist in fine art engagement with a diverse portfolio of arts institutions, museum, and heritage sites across the UK. Clients include the National Gallery, The Courtauld, Tate, The National Archives, Historic Royal Palaces, Art Fund, The Government Art Collection DCMS and the Arts Council Collection. Prior to this Jon worked for Birmingham Museums Trust in round one of the acclaimed ACE National Partners Program. He produces, delivers, and consults on art engagement. Jon has built a national reputation for innovation, applied ethics and delivery of projects reflecting inclusive futures. He has a passion for challenging underrepresented narratives in art – co-producing with communities to bring their lived experience to artworks for advocacy.

Chair

Dr Siobhán Jolley (she/her) is the Howard and Roberta Ahmanson Research Fellow in Art and Religion at the National Gallery, a Visiting Lecturer in Religions and Theology at King’s College, London, and an Honorary Research Fellow at the Centre for Biblical Studies at the University of Manchester. A specialist in the portrayal of Mary Magdalene, her broader research interests include the work of female artists, the reception of biblical women and the New Testament, and feminist approaches. Her current work with the National Gallery focuses on Storytelling, considering how stories of saints and biblical figures are told from an intersectional, theological and art historical perspective.

Talks & conversations

Querying the lives of saints

Members' talk and Q&A

Celebrate saints through a queer lens this Pride Month
Date
Thursday, 27 June 2024
Time
4 - 5 pm BST
Available online only
Audience
Members

Free for Members

This is an online event, exclusive to Members, hosted on Zoom.

Members, please book your free ticket to access this event. You will receive an E-ticket with instructions on how to access your online events, films and resources via your National Gallery account. Only one ticket can be booked per account.

Not a Member?

Discover a year of inspiring art and enjoy free entry to all our paid exhibitions.

Membership