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Makoto Fujimura
Art and Faith: A Theology of Making Hardcover – January 5, 2021
by Makoto Fujimura (Author), N. T. Wright (Foreword)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 618 ratings
4.3 on Goodreads
1,250 ratings
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From a world-renowned painter, an exploration of creativity’s quintessential—and often overlooked—role in the spiritual life
“Makoto Fujimura’s art and writings have been a true inspiration to me. In this luminous book, he addresses the question of art and faith and their reconciliation with a quiet and moving eloquence.”—Martin Scorsese
“[An] elegant treatise. . . . Fujimura’s sensitive, evocative theology will appeal to believers interested in the role religion can play in the creation of art.”—Publishers Weekly
Conceived over thirty years of painting and creating in his studio, this book is Makoto Fujimura’s broad and deep exploration of creativity and the spiritual aspects of “making.” What he does in the studio is theological work as much as it is aesthetic work. In between pouring precious, pulverized minerals onto handmade paper to create the prismatic, refractive surfaces of his art, he comes into the quiet space in the studio in a discipline of awareness, waiting, prayer, and praise.
Ranging from the Bible to T. S. Eliot, Mark Rothko, and Japanese Kintsugi technique, he shows how, unless we are making something, we cannot know the depth of God’s being and God’s grace permeating our lives. This poignant and beautiful book offers the perspective of, in Christian Wiman’s words, an “accidental theologian,” one who comes to spiritual questions always through the prism of art.
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184 pages
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From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Art and Faith features more biblical exegesis than studio tips, as the painter wrestles eloquently with art-averse fellow Christians who prefer narrow-minded ‘culture war’ to the ‘culture care’ he advocates.”—The Economist
“A beautiful book. . . . Art and Faith should be widely read. Its delightful wisdom and clarity underlines our culture’s desperate need to make things new.”—Susanne Sklar, Arts Fuse
“Engaging. . . . Fujimura gathers the many themes from each corner of his vibrant career into a single volume that persuasively articulates a ‘theology of making’ while communicating that vision in a contemplative style that itself radiates the very creativity he advocates.”—Joel Clarkson, Christianity Today
“[An] elegant treatise. . . . Fujimura’s sensitive, evocative theology will appeal to believers interested in the role religion can play in the creation of art.”—Publishers Weekly
“A brilliant, dense, and far-reaching study of the relationship between art, artist, and the living Creator. . . . Fujimura brings his passion, talent, knowledge, and love of God and man strongly to bear.”—Richard Christman, Forefront
“One of the most beautiful aspects of Art and Faith, and I would argue one of the most appealing aspects of Christianity itself, is the insistence that though the world is broken, its brokenness is the basis of its rebirth. . . . Fujimura often uses moving personal anecdotes . . . that lure us in with their warmth, humor, and tenderness. And anyone interested in the creative act or worried about our culture’s elevation of consuming over making will find plenty to mull over.”—Scott Beauchamp, Washington Examiner
“[In] this delightful book . . . Fujimura teaches us what he has learned on his path to God, and in so doing reveals the depth dimension to any artistic making. . . . Fujimura writes powerfully of the need for Christians to reengage with this finesse for making and set aside the culture wars of apologetics. . . . We need to help reopen the pathways to God.”—Terence Sweeney, Dappled Things
“Fujimura’s manifesto. . . . An invitation to us all to remember, reflect, and reclaim humanity’s first (and often forgotten) vocation of being cocreators with the ultimate Creator.”—Zachary Lee, Fare Forward
Recipient of the 2023 Kuyper Prize, sponsored by Calvin University
“Makoto Fujimura’s art and writings have been a true inspiration to me. In this luminous book, he addresses the question of art and faith and their reconciliation with a quiet and moving eloquence.”—Martin Scorsese
“This brief, very crisply and lucidly written book makes a brilliantly and distinctly personal contribution to the ongoing discussions around faith and the creative imagination.”—Rowan Williams
“Here a world-class painter and cultural critic reinterprets both the creative act and the nature of Christian faith in a way that should interest anyone concerned with the indispensable role of the creative imagination in human flourishing.”—Ellen Davis, Duke Divinity School
“Makoto Fujimura is the rare artist whose life has something of the same purifying and galvanizing force of his work. His new book brings those two elements—life and art—even closer together, and is a real tonic for our atomized time.”—Christian Wiman
“In the presence of the beautiful ‘we act like someone who is all ears and eyes: beauty has something to say to us,’ wrote Nietzsche. Reading this book, I fell silent and became all ears and eyes.”—Miroslav Volf, Yale Divinity School
“Makoto Fujimura writes and creates with a joy that truly celebrates and nurtures the beauty and goodness both in and all around us. His work inspires a deep love for the details that make up our colorful world.”—Amanda Cook, Bethel Music
“This book is a triumph: a beautiful blend of scholarship, personal transparency, artistic insight, and biblical meditation. Art and Faith has forever deepened my understanding of both art and faith.”—Philip Yancey, author of What’s So Amazing About Grace?
“In a time of polarization and culture wars, Makoto Fujimura takes broken pieces and makes beauty through his art. I’m delighted that he has put his lived theology in written form so that we can emulate his example!”—David M. Bailey, CEO of Arrabon and founder of Urban Doxology
“Makoto Fujimura is able to draw a through-line between the chaos of our current age, the communal tension that has been permeating for centuries, the purposeful encounters in blessed community, and the sparks of inspiration to newness—all leading him toward a theology of making. As you read this book, you will be blessed, inspired, and encouraged to participate.”—September Penn, CEO and artistic director, The Power of Song
“Mako Fujimura is an extraordinary visual artist whose words are as provocative and penetrating, and as lavishly beautiful, as his painted works. Art and Faith is a reflection of Mako’s artistic approach—considered, slow, and generative. From broken gems and fractured pigments he mixes, layers, and recombines elements into a dazzling new creation. A balm for the soul weary of culture warring, this book is an invitation to discover the joy and meaning of generativity, a summons to learn to know and love God and each other better, to participate in the work of re-creation.”—Cherie Harder, president, The Trinity Forum
“One of the most important faith-and-work books written to date. Drawing from rich biblical and theological streams, Fujimura helps us see a distinctive alternative that challenges the pragmatism that overwhelmingly characterizes our approach to work today. If digested slowly, Art and Faith will turn workers into makers whose imaginations have been captivated by the New Creation that is to come.”—David Kim, Goldenwood NYC
About the Author
Makoto Fujimura is an artist whose exhibitions in New York and Asia have been featured in the New York Times, the Atlantic, and other leading publications. He is the recipient of the 2023 Kuyper Prize and is an award-winning author. He is founder of IAMCultureCare and the Fujimura Institute, and cofounder of Kintsugi Academy. He has served on the National Council on the Arts.
Product details
Publisher : Yale University Press; First Edition (January 5, 2021)
Language : English
Hardcover : 184 pages
#18 in Christian Faith (Books)
#21 in Arts & Photography CriticismCustomer Reviews:
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 618 ratings
Makoto Fujimura
Makoto Fujimura, recipient of his fourth honorary doctorate, (Roanoke College, May 2015), is an artist, writer, and speaker who is recognized worldwide as a cultural shaper. A Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2009, Fujimura served as an international advocate for the arts, speaking with decision makers and advising governmental policies on the arts. In 2014, the American Academy of Religion, named Makoto Fujimura as its ’2014 Religion and the Arts’ award recipient. This award is presented annually to an artist, performer, critic, curator, or scholar who has made a significant contribution to the understanding of the relations among the arts and the religions, both for the academy and for a broader public. Previous recipients of the award include Meredith Monk, Holland Carter, Gary Snyder, Betye & Alison Saar and Bill Viola.
Read reviews that mention
art and faith makoto fujimura highly recommend new creation must read theology of making beautiful book work of art book i read book about art god artists christian inspiring artistic brilliant creative vision deep mako
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Top reviews from the United States
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing BookReviewed in the United States on May 4, 2023
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Recommended by a dear friend and I could not put it down. Loved this thoughtful and insightful book. I already purchased two more to give as gifts!
2 people found this helpful
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Justin Wiggins
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible book about art and faith.Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2022
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Art & Faith A Theology of Making by the brilliant Japanese visual artist and writer Makoto Fujimura, is an amazing book about the importance of art to our human tribe, the discipline it takes to be an artist, the healing power of art, a critique of naturalism, rapture theology, and how The Great Artist, Christ, brings healing through our sufferings and struggles, brings us joy, and sustains us with His agape love.
I liked Fujimura's conversational writing style, his references to Emily Dickinson, T.S.Eliot, N.T.Wright, C.S.Lewis, his moving story of becoming an artist and embracing faith, and there are some valuable truths and moving quotes that I have been reflecting on and incorporating into my life.
I finished the book today for the Hugin and Munin read and drink mead book club a friend and I started a few years ago. A recent conversation we had about the book was quite enriching and spiritually nourishing.
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From the Publisher
Editorial Reviews
Review
“Art and Faith features more biblical exegesis than studio tips, as the painter wrestles eloquently with art-averse fellow Christians who prefer narrow-minded ‘culture war’ to the ‘culture care’ he advocates.”—The Economist
“A beautiful book. . . . Art and Faith should be widely read. Its delightful wisdom and clarity underlines our culture’s desperate need to make things new.”—Susanne Sklar, Arts Fuse
“Engaging. . . . Fujimura gathers the many themes from each corner of his vibrant career into a single volume that persuasively articulates a ‘theology of making’ while communicating that vision in a contemplative style that itself radiates the very creativity he advocates.”—Joel Clarkson, Christianity Today
“[An] elegant treatise. . . . Fujimura’s sensitive, evocative theology will appeal to believers interested in the role religion can play in the creation of art.”—Publishers Weekly
“A brilliant, dense, and far-reaching study of the relationship between art, artist, and the living Creator. . . . Fujimura brings his passion, talent, knowledge, and love of God and man strongly to bear.”—Richard Christman, Forefront
“One of the most beautiful aspects of Art and Faith, and I would argue one of the most appealing aspects of Christianity itself, is the insistence that though the world is broken, its brokenness is the basis of its rebirth. . . . Fujimura often uses moving personal anecdotes . . . that lure us in with their warmth, humor, and tenderness. And anyone interested in the creative act or worried about our culture’s elevation of consuming over making will find plenty to mull over.”—Scott Beauchamp, Washington Examiner
“[In] this delightful book . . . Fujimura teaches us what he has learned on his path to God, and in so doing reveals the depth dimension to any artistic making. . . . Fujimura writes powerfully of the need for Christians to reengage with this finesse for making and set aside the culture wars of apologetics. . . . We need to help reopen the pathways to God.”—Terence Sweeney, Dappled Things
“Fujimura’s manifesto. . . . An invitation to us all to remember, reflect, and reclaim humanity’s first (and often forgotten) vocation of being cocreators with the ultimate Creator.”—Zachary Lee, Fare Forward
Recipient of the 2023 Kuyper Prize, sponsored by Calvin University
“Makoto Fujimura’s art and writings have been a true inspiration to me. In this luminous book, he addresses the question of art and faith and their reconciliation with a quiet and moving eloquence.”—Martin Scorsese
“This brief, very crisply and lucidly written book makes a brilliantly and distinctly personal contribution to the ongoing discussions around faith and the creative imagination.”—Rowan Williams
“Here a world-class painter and cultural critic reinterprets both the creative act and the nature of Christian faith in a way that should interest anyone concerned with the indispensable role of the creative imagination in human flourishing.”—Ellen Davis, Duke Divinity School
“Makoto Fujimura is the rare artist whose life has something of the same purifying and galvanizing force of his work. His new book brings those two elements—life and art—even closer together, and is a real tonic for our atomized time.”—Christian Wiman
“In the presence of the beautiful ‘we act like someone who is all ears and eyes: beauty has something to say to us,’ wrote Nietzsche. Reading this book, I fell silent and became all ears and eyes.”—Miroslav Volf, Yale Divinity School
“Makoto Fujimura writes and creates with a joy that truly celebrates and nurtures the beauty and goodness both in and all around us. His work inspires a deep love for the details that make up our colorful world.”—Amanda Cook, Bethel Music
“This book is a triumph: a beautiful blend of scholarship, personal transparency, artistic insight, and biblical meditation. Art and Faith has forever deepened my understanding of both art and faith.”—Philip Yancey, author of What’s So Amazing About Grace?
“In a time of polarization and culture wars, Makoto Fujimura takes broken pieces and makes beauty through his art. I’m delighted that he has put his lived theology in written form so that we can emulate his example!”—David M. Bailey, CEO of Arrabon and founder of Urban Doxology
“Makoto Fujimura is able to draw a through-line between the chaos of our current age, the communal tension that has been permeating for centuries, the purposeful encounters in blessed community, and the sparks of inspiration to newness—all leading him toward a theology of making. As you read this book, you will be blessed, inspired, and encouraged to participate.”—September Penn, CEO and artistic director, The Power of Song
“Mako Fujimura is an extraordinary visual artist whose words are as provocative and penetrating, and as lavishly beautiful, as his painted works. Art and Faith is a reflection of Mako’s artistic approach—considered, slow, and generative. From broken gems and fractured pigments he mixes, layers, and recombines elements into a dazzling new creation. A balm for the soul weary of culture warring, this book is an invitation to discover the joy and meaning of generativity, a summons to learn to know and love God and each other better, to participate in the work of re-creation.”—Cherie Harder, president, The Trinity Forum
“One of the most important faith-and-work books written to date. Drawing from rich biblical and theological streams, Fujimura helps us see a distinctive alternative that challenges the pragmatism that overwhelmingly characterizes our approach to work today. If digested slowly, Art and Faith will turn workers into makers whose imaginations have been captivated by the New Creation that is to come.”—David Kim, Goldenwood NYC
About the Author
Makoto Fujimura is an artist whose exhibitions in New York and Asia have been featured in the New York Times, the Atlantic, and other leading publications. He is the recipient of the 2023 Kuyper Prize and is an award-winning author. He is founder of IAMCultureCare and the Fujimura Institute, and cofounder of Kintsugi Academy. He has served on the National Council on the Arts.
Product details
Publisher : Yale University Press; First Edition (January 5, 2021)
Language : English
Hardcover : 184 pages
#18 in Christian Faith (Books)
#21 in Arts & Photography CriticismCustomer Reviews:
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 618 ratings
Makoto Fujimura
Makoto Fujimura, recipient of his fourth honorary doctorate, (Roanoke College, May 2015), is an artist, writer, and speaker who is recognized worldwide as a cultural shaper. A Presidential appointee to the National Council on the Arts from 2003-2009, Fujimura served as an international advocate for the arts, speaking with decision makers and advising governmental policies on the arts. In 2014, the American Academy of Religion, named Makoto Fujimura as its ’2014 Religion and the Arts’ award recipient. This award is presented annually to an artist, performer, critic, curator, or scholar who has made a significant contribution to the understanding of the relations among the arts and the religions, both for the academy and for a broader public. Previous recipients of the award include Meredith Monk, Holland Carter, Gary Snyder, Betye & Alison Saar and Bill Viola.
Read reviews that mention
art and faith makoto fujimura highly recommend new creation must read theology of making beautiful book work of art book i read book about art god artists christian inspiring artistic brilliant creative vision deep mako
Top reviews
Top reviews from the United States
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing BookReviewed in the United States on May 4, 2023
Verified Purchase
Recommended by a dear friend and I could not put it down. Loved this thoughtful and insightful book. I already purchased two more to give as gifts!
2 people found this helpful
HelpfulReport
Justin Wiggins
5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible book about art and faith.Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2022
Verified Purchase
Art & Faith A Theology of Making by the brilliant Japanese visual artist and writer Makoto Fujimura, is an amazing book about the importance of art to our human tribe, the discipline it takes to be an artist, the healing power of art, a critique of naturalism, rapture theology, and how The Great Artist, Christ, brings healing through our sufferings and struggles, brings us joy, and sustains us with His agape love.
I liked Fujimura's conversational writing style, his references to Emily Dickinson, T.S.Eliot, N.T.Wright, C.S.Lewis, his moving story of becoming an artist and embracing faith, and there are some valuable truths and moving quotes that I have been reflecting on and incorporating into my life.
I finished the book today for the Hugin and Munin read and drink mead book club a friend and I started a few years ago. A recent conversation we had about the book was quite enriching and spiritually nourishing.
I highly recommend it.
8 people found this helpful
HelpfulReport
Karl D. Stephan
5.0 out of 5 stars Fujimura's vision of art as making new thingsReviewed in the United States on March 31, 2022
Verified Purchase
Makoto Fujimura is a world-class artist who is both Japanese and Christian, an unusual combination in itself. In a deep and wide-ranging consideration of how art and faith relate to each other, to the human person, and to our ultimate fate before God, Fujimura lays out a new path for Christianity that would truly "make all things new." Not the new that advertisements are constantly trying to make us buy into, but something that is original both to us and to the universe, that will grow from our feeble fallible efforts into a thing of truth and beauty in the kingdom of God. This is not easy or light reading, but will reward the persistent pursuer of truth and beauty with a unique vision that deserves to be better known.
4 people found this helpful
Trudy R Doan
4.0 out of 5 stars Great for a Book Study GroupReviewed in the United States on March 29, 2022
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I bought this book for a book study at my church. I have found it to be fully packed, and impactful. It has also been a bit of a difficult read for me, but definitely well worth the time and effort. It is a book I will reread many times, so much there. Fugimura’s writing of the interplay of art and faith is deeply personal, drawn from both his personal experience, and studied contributions from other writers and theologians I respect. It is as rewarding as it is challenging.
One person found this helpful
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Shann Ray
5.0 out of 5 stars A Stunning Illumination from World-Renowned Painter Mako Fujimura!Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2021
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Mako is among the most devoted artists of this generation. His art transcends. His life and his art gives others such love and joy, such peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and embodied action for the common good. In this book, you'll find deep waters and if you enter in and release into the mystery he helps name, your own life and the lives of those you love, dare I say your soul and the souls of others, will find unity that heals all fracture, and the kind of light and fusion that leads to greater life, greater care, and greater love. Thank you, Mako, for calling forth a community of people, artists, and life that echoes Coretta Scott King and Martin Luther King Jr.'s Beloved Community. Thank you for your humble vision of the mysteries of God in the life of all, and for the beauty of love in its capacity to heal the heart of the world.
16 people found this helpful
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David K.
5.0 out of 5 stars For more than artist and art enthusiasts...!Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2021
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The title, Art + Faith, might lead some to believe that this book is written primarily for the artist or art enthusiast. To make this conclusion, however, would keep many from reading what is one of the most important faith and work books written to date. Fujimura addresses a critically under-represented perspective of the faith and work movement through his interjection of a "theology of making." Drawing from rich biblical and theological streams, Fujimura helps us see a distinctive alternative that challenges the pragmatism that overwhelmingly characterizes our approach to work today. In this new paradigm of “slow work,” the brokenness we experience becomes the unexpected starting place for the “New Newness” to break into our world. If digested slowly, Art + Faith will turn workers into makers whose imaginations have been captivated by the New Creation that is to come.
34 people found this helpful
M. F. Crowl
3.0 out of 5 stars Not as inspiring as many claimReviewed in the United States on October 17, 2021
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I'm obviously one of the few people who've read this book who've found it less than inspiring.
I came to it thinking it was a book that might give me some help in how to be a Christian and a writer (while admittedly Fujimara is an artist, he's writing about the arts in general), but apart from a few not greatly original thoughts, there was little concrete to take hold of. Fujimara comes across as an earnest seeker of a way to be Christian and an artist in this world, and plainly achieves that in his own life and art. His method of communicating it, for me, wasn't achieved nearly as well. Too much repetition, too much use of the same few ideas as springboards for discussion with little that I could get my teeth into. Yes, I was looking for something more concrete, and there are a few things that struck a chord, but overall I found this distinctly underwhelming.
Not every book/idea suits everyone...!
13 people found this helpful
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Workerbee
5.0 out of 5 stars Transformative.Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2022
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I have highlighted so much of this book that the highlighting is almost irrelevant. Every page is filled with stunning insight. I will be revisiting this book often.
3 people found this helpful
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Mr. James W. Lyle
4.0 out of 5 stars Big abstract picturesReviewed in Australia on August 10, 2021
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Some wonderful orthodox arguments toward very unorthodox creative ends. This is very BIG PICTURE and abstract... a little like Makotos art!) with not much nuts and bolts - but perhaps that is intentional and appropriate - it does leave you yearning for more real world applications of this kind of thinking. Keen to read some of his other works as this is his first that I've read.
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Sam D
2.0 out of 5 stars Difficult to follow the sentence structureReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 29, 2022
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While reading I’m struggling to follow the train of thought due to the way it’s written, I’m only getting moments of clarity every now and then. Disappointed as I was really looking forward to this book.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars still readingReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 6, 2021
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good to find a book by an artist I like v much. still reading.
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Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars Food for thoughtReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 11, 2021
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Short on Art and long on faith
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