The Women’s Chapel is an interdisciplinary art exhibition created by artist Megan Kenyon and a collaborative group of evangelical women. They are creating an incarnational space, one embodied in this community of people deeply hurt by evangelical Christian spaces but who continue to practice their faith in Jesus despite that hurt.

Inspired by feminist consciousness-raising groups and art installations from the 1970s, The Women’s Chapel shows up as the experiences shared in the group, and in artifacts of that sharing, which form the art exhibition. Using incarnation as an active verb, Kenyon and her group explore how prophetic imagination expresses itself in rage, lament, humor, and hope to illuminate and challenge the places where patriarchy lurks in church practice and co-opts the Gospel.

The work in this show predominantly takes the form of photography, collage, found sculpture, and text, making visceral the testimonies shared. The show features self-portraiture, as Kenyon wrestles with her own faith and response to uncovering patriarchy in institutions she trusted. It also features work created by the group through facilitated workshops and work Kenyon created in response to things shared by this group. Their work stands as a critique from the inside, and the exhibition, The Women’s Chapel becomes an open invitation to anyone who is willing to come and see.

In the spirit of our Dovetail receptions, Intersect Arts is partnering with Washington University’s John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics to host a panel discussion in conjunction with the exhibition The Women’s Chapel. Artist Megan Kenyon will be one of the guest speakers, and you won’t want to miss it! Click below to find out more and register for the event!