Trace the Origins of Mormon Scriptural and Historical Art in Scholars & Saints Season 4 Episode 5

Season 4 Episode 5 – C. C. A. Christensen: Mormon Iconographer (feat. Jennifer Champoux)

Religious imagery—from Greco-Roman sculptures to The Chosen—has influenced the spiritual self-conception of generations of religious practitioners. But what innovations and contributions have Mormon artists made in this field, and how has it cultivated a distinct religious identity?

Art historian Jennifer Champoux asserts that it was Danish-American artist C. C. A. Christensen who exerted the most influence over the visual trajectory of Mormonism. On this episode of Scholars & Saints, Champoux discusses her new book, C. C. A. Christensen: A Mormon Visionary (University of Illinois Press, 2026) with host Nicholas Shrum. Together, they explore Christensen’s artistic style, his scriptural depictions in the 1890 Book of Mormon series, and his representation of Mormon experience and trauma in his Mormon panorama. More than just art history, Champoux dives deeply into how communal memory of trauma and shared religious identity are formed and communicated to Mormons by artistic visionaries like Christensen.

Jennifer Champoux is the director of the Book of Mormon Art Catalog and scholar of Latter-day Saint art. In addition to her recent publication on Christensen, she is also the author of Approaching the Tree: Interpreting 1 Nehi 8 (Maxwell Institute, 2023) and co-author of Picturing Christ: Understanding Depictions of Jesus in History and Art (Deseret Books, 2026).

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What is Scholars and Saints?

Scholars & Saints is the official podcast of the University of Virginia’s Mormon Studies program, housed in the Department of Religious Studies. Scholars & Saints is a venue of public scholarship that promotes respectful dialogue about Latter-day Saint traditions among laypersons and academics. On this podcast, we dive into the academic study of Mormonism, engage recent and classic scholarship, interview prominent and up-and-coming thinkers in the field and reflect on Mormonism’s relevance to the broader study of religion.

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