A Sacred Art Ministry

The 100 Faces of Jesus

Ken Schilling
A Sacred Art Ministry in Abstracted Realism (ABREAL)

In The 100 Faces of Jesus, Ken Schilling embarks on an ambitious visual meditation exploring the enduring figure of Christ through the lens of contemporary sacred art.

Began in April 2023 following what the artist describes as a profound spiritual awakening, the series seeks to illuminate the multifaceted nature of Jesus—revealing not a singular, static image, but a dynamic presence expressed through compassion, strength, sorrow, justice, humility, and transcendence.

Working in a self-defined style known as Abstracted Realism (ABREAL), Schilling bridges classical iconography with modern visual language. Elements of abstraction merge with stylized realism, creating compositions that honor the solemnity, symbolism, and compositional balance of Renaissance and Old Master traditions while engaging the visual sensibilities of contemporary audiences.

Rather than replicate historical depictions, Schilling reinterprets sacred imagery through texture, gesture, and expressive form. His approach invites viewers into a contemplative encounter—where the familiar becomes newly perceived and the spiritual dimension is suggested through layered color, structural rhythm, and emotional presence.

In a cultural moment often marked by fragmentation and secularization, The 100 Faces of Jesus positions sacred art not as nostalgic revivalism, but as a living and evolving discipline. The work proposes that religious imagery can remain intellectually rigorous, aesthetically compelling, and spiritually resonant within the context of modern fine art.

Each painting functions as both portrait and meditation—an exploration of identity, divinity, and human experience. Collectively, the series forms a pilgrimage in paint, asking timeless questions about suffering, redemption, justice, and grace.

Through this body of work, Schilling contributes to a contemporary renewal of sacred art—one that seeks dialogue between tradition and innovation, faith and culture, permanence and transformation.