Open through March 1 | Akiane: A Journey of Faith Through Art — Seoul, South Korea → Visit
Open through March 1 | Akiane: A Journey of Faith Through Art — Seoul, South Korea → Visit
Belóved Gallery is honored to partner with Faith Academy in Marble Falls, Texas, to support and judge an annual student art showcase. Faith Academy’s mission is to lead students to know Jesus, grow in faith and academic excellence, and go into the world as lifelong disciples of Christ. Belóved Gallery exists to help people of all backgrounds experience faith through art. Together, we are grateful to encourage young artists as they express their faith boldly, thoughtfully, and creatively through their work.
Students are invited to create artwork that expresses their personal interpretation of Faith Academy’s scripture of the year. They are encouraged to reflect, explore themes of faith, renewal, transformation, and wholehearted devotion to God. Through their unique styles and artistic gifts, each student offers a visual expression of this scripture.
Belóved Gallery uses the following judging rubric:
The top 10 entries are featured in this showcase, celebrating the heartfelt devotion, artistic skill, and scriptural reflection of Faith Academy’s young creators. The top three pieces are honored and displayed at the annual Faith Academy Gala, recognizing their outstanding creativity and faith-filled expression. We hope you are inspired by the students’ creativity and encouraged by the ways art can reflect scripture, stir devotion, and illuminate a transformed life.
Romans 12:1-2 (NLT):
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. (2) Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
First Place
Whenever I read Romans 12:1-2, I am reminded of Jesus on the cross. Paul calls us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, and Jesus is the perfect example. He, the perfect Savior of the world, not only made himself human for us, but he died a criminal’s death for us. He calls us to be set apart from this world, and with Him, we can be transformed. Looking at this image, I am reminded to live a life of worship as Paul says. This drawing doesn’t just represent what Jesus did; it challenges me to live differently and offer myself as a living sacrifice so I can truly and properly worship God.
Second Place
My art submission is markers, acrylic, paint, watercolor, and pencils. This piece represents a living sacrifice. I used a tree to symbolize the holy Trinity, with the trunk representing the Father. The green leaves represent the life we received through Jesus Christ, and the beautiful light all around is the Holy Spirit. The girl is me stepping out of darkness into the light and being welcomed by the Trinity; she is sacrificing herself to be glorious through God. The colorful dress is the fruits of the spirit, which is what you offer from your heart to become living, sacrifice, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness.
Third Place
My sketch is a graphite portrait of Saint Mother Teresa holding an orphaned baby. This sketch captures the quiet strength in Mother Teresa’s wrinkled face and her gentle eyes. My artwork was inspired by the powerful words of Romans 12:1-2: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God-this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Mother Teresa embodied this verse like few others. She offered herself as a living sacrifice, serving the poorest of the poor in the streets of Calcutta, India. She saw the face of Jesus in each and every suffering soul. She refused to conform to a world that often ignores the poor and powerless, instead allowing her mind and heart to be transformed by God’s mercy. In this sketch, we don’t only see a woman holding an orphaned child, but a testament to transformation. Mother Teresa is an amazing example and reminder that true worship is lived out in acts of selfless love.
Finalist
Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice for us was his crucifixion on the cross. However, Jesus is also a constant living sacrifice in our day-to-day lives. In my drawing, an innocent little boy is praying. Behind him, Jesus is blocking a metaphorical storm of bad things from hitting the child. Jesus is portrayed as a shield, sacrificing himself to the storm, all to protect one child. I wanted to express how we can be protected from evil and darkness through the power of prayer, and that with Jesus’ sacrifice for us, we should never feel afraid or unloved.
Finalist
I did this painting because I was inspired by the verse Romans 12: 1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” I wanted my painting to convey how serving others can make a big difference.
Finalist
My art is titled “The Sacrifice of Christ.” The eye is of a man who is just now seeing what it means to become a Christian. The eye is deeply moved by the understanding that all the life he has been following the wrong path, and now, he is repenting. The man’s eye looks down at the place where Jesus was crucified, represented by the three crosses.
Finalist
My piece portrays a candle lighting another candle and a dove emerging from the flame. The act of one candle igniting another symbolizes being a light for others and offering them encouragement, comfort, and hope. By helping others, we embody the idea of a living sacrifice, willingly pouring out our time, energy, and love for someone else’s well-being. In the past year, there have been several times when someone I love dearly in my life has gone through difficult times and struggled with their self-worth. In those moments, I felt it was my calling to make them feel loved and seen for who they are, and to be the light they needed in their lives. When we show up for others with genuine compassion, God rejoices in the kindness that we share. The dove, which represents peace, love, hope, and purity, embodies God’s presence and gratitude, rising from the very flame of sacrifice that ignites light in another’s life.
Finalist
I painted inspired by the fact that the resurrection is a cornerstone of the Christian faith, which inspires belief in God’s power and the transformative potential of faith. It encourages individuals to trust in something greater than themselves.
Finalist
We are called to be living sacrifices. That is not always easy to do. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming and like we are all alone. This piece shows Jesus reaching out to a man who feels he is drowning in the cares of this world. But Jesus never leaves us alone. He always offers himself to us. We just need to take his hand.
Finalist
The cross stands as a symbol of hope and faith, steady and unmoving amid shifting tides and changing skies. Together, the sunset and shoreline suggest the peace found in trusting something greater than ourselves.
Colossians 3:1 (NLT):
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.
First Place
Being born into a Christian family, I’ve grown up knowing that Christ died on the cross for our sins. I was raised in the comfort of knowing that when I die, I can be with my savior for eternity. However, it can be easy to overlook the suffering Jesus went through to show His love for us. So, I thought my artwork should display this as a reminder.
Second Place
My art piece is a graphite sketch of a baby grasping Jesus’ scarred and outstretched hand. Colossians 3:1 says, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.” My sketch has a dual meaning that was inspired by this verse. The first represents our “new birth” when we are born again and raised into a new life when we make the decision to take Jesus’ hand and follow Him. The second meaning my sketch was inspired by, is my aunt’s rainbow baby. I hope that this image can offer hope to others who have suffered the loss of a child by reminding them that their baby is safe in Jesus’ arms until they are reunited for eternity. We must set our sights on the realities of heaven and remember that this life is just a tiny fraction of what is to come. The losses we suffer here are temporary. With Christ, nothing is ever truly lost.
Third Place
The drawing is based on the Bible verse Colossians 3:1-4. The verse highlights being raised with Christ, and from my own experiences, I am a living testimony to His promises. Christ has raised me, ever since I was a little girl. He was so close I could touch Him. My art portrays God’s closeness in our lives, from the very beginning to the end; He remains.
Third Place
My artwork represents the idea of divine intervention and hope in times of struggle. The figure trapped in the hole symbolizes feelings of helplessness and isolation, while God’s hand reaching down signifies guidance, support, and the possibility of salvation. This piece reflects the belief that no matter how deep our struggles, help is always within reach.
Special Category
The painting showcases the suffering Jesus went through so all could receive a personal relationship with Christ. The roses represent the pain that came with His sacrifice, yet the beauty of the outcome. The dove symbolizes the peace we get when one accepts Jesus as their personal Savior.
Finalist
When I look at this painting, I feel my faith and God’s guidance. Knowing that I have God to walk with me through difficult times gives me peace, and when I look at Jesus and this little gir,l I am reminded of the love God has for me every single day.
Finalist
I enjoy drawing landscapes because they are a way to reflect God’s creation. I envisioned a beautiful path through a jungle with a large lake in the background. On this lake, I pictured a staircase made of supernatural light going up into the clouds.
Finalist
My artwork, based on the prompt, Raised with Christ, portrays Jesus warmly embracing a little girl, radiating love and comfort as His glowing presence overtakes the girl’s sorrow and struggles. The girl wrapped in Jesus’ arms is shown to feel protected, no scared of the outside world. This artwork captures the connection between our loving Father and having childlike faith, invoking a sense of security and love.
Finalist
My piece represents a young girl who is broken and feels like she needs saving. She just wants to feel loved, comforted, and safe. She reaches up to the heavens as God reaches back down to her. It’s a very peaceful moment where she is experiencing her father reach out to her letting her know she is ok. I was inspired to paint this specifically because a lot of teens deal with anxiety and pressure. When the girl reaches out her hands for God she starts to feel his presence begin to surround her allowing her to have peace and happiness. I tried to express this feeling of peace in my painting with the light beams coming from the connection of their hands, symbolizing that even in the midst of your darkness, God will reach out for you and surround you with light.
Finalist
When I painted this, it was my interpretation of this year’s “Raised with Christ” motto at Faith Academy. The painting shows a radiant Jesus raising Christians above the earth as a symbol of him raising us above the issues and situations that we often struggle with as human beings. It is a constant reminder that when things get tough, we can always rely on God to raise us up.
Finalist
The name “Peace” came to mind when I was finalizing her face, she looked so peaceful and had no other worries besides what Jesus would think. She stands out just like Jesus wants us to stand out in a crowd full of sinners. What inspired me to draw this was knowing that we are all made perfect in the eye of the Father.
