Women of the Bible in Art

Sandra Glahn (PhD, University of Texas at Dallas) is professor of Media Arts and Worship at Dallas Theological Seminary. Glahn is the author or co-author of more than 20 books, including 12 titles in The Coffee Cup Bible Study series and Nobody’s Mother: Artemis of the Ephesians in Antiquity and the New Testament. Glahn served as the general editor of Vindicating the Vixens: Revisiting Sexualized, Vilified, and Marginalized Women of the Bible. She is a cofounder of the Visual Museum of Women in Christianity. Her most recent work is A Woman’s Place Is in the Story (IVP Academic, forthcoming). Her podcast, The Chick Report, debuts in early 2026.

Keynote Abstract:

In a world shaped by written language, most Westerners learn the ABCs of textual literacy. But for centuries, visual literacy has dominated. This workshop introduces the “visual ABCs,” specifically as this alphabet has applied to sacred art. Through color, gesture, and symbolic elements in icons and mosaics, participants will see how art has communicated theology and told the stories of key women in the Bible and the early church.

Sandra Richter (PhD, Harvard University) is the Robert H. Gundry Chair of Biblical Studies at Westmont College. She leads students on archaeological digs in Israel and is internationally known for her work on Deuteronomy. Her commentary on Deuteronomy with Eerdmans is forthcoming. She is the author of The Epic of Eden: A Christian Entry into the Old Testament and the series of video Bible study curricula that have grown from that project. Richter is a member of the NIV Committee for Biblical Translation. She is also deeply involved in conversations regarding environmental theology. Her book, The Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says About the Environment and Why It Matters, draws together more than a decade of technical work and activism.

Keynote Abstract:

The world of the Bible is very different from our own, which often leaves biblical texts inaccessible to the modern reader. Utilizing current anthropological and archaeological data, we will engage the culture, economy, and legal system of the southern Levant in order to reconstruct “a day in the life” of women in the biblical world. Participants will make use of the familiar text of Proverbs 31 as a touchstone for our cross-cultural experience, asking questions regarding traditional cultural systems, marriage, child-rearing, and economics in this ancient context.

Lynn H. Cohick (PhD, University of Pennsylvania) is distinguished professor of New Testament at Houston Christian University. She is founder and president of the Center for Women in Leadership, cofounder of the Visual Museum of Women in Christianity, and host of The Alabaster Jar podcast. Her books include The Letter to the Ephesians in NICNT; Christian Women in the Patristic World: Their Influence, Authority, and Legacy in the Second through the Fifth Centuries (co-authored with Amy Brown Hughes); Philippians in the Story of God Commentary; Ephesians in New Covenant Commentary; and Women in the World of the Earliest Christians.

Keynote Abstract:

Mary Magdalene should serve as an excellent role model for men and women today. She gave of her wealth to support Jesus’s ministry. She was faithful at his most needy hour, braving ridicule, and potential harassment by authorities at the cross. She was passionate in her devotion, wanting to properly care for what she thought was his dead body. And she obeyed Jesus in telling the other disciples that he is risen. In this latter act, she has been called Apostle to the Apostles (Thomas Aquinas). Come learn more about Mary Magdalene and her role in Jesus’s ministry.

Dr. Kelly Dippolito (DMin, Northern Seminary) is passionate about supporting women and freeing them from biblical interpretations that undermine their capacity to lead and thrive. As a biblical teacher, she aims to move believers from biblical familiarity to biblical literacy by teaching the metanarrative of Scripture, starting with the position that men and women were created to experience love and relationship with God and mutuality with one another. She is a CPA and former business consultant with 20+ years of experience in nonprofits. Enthusiasm is her superpower.

Workshop Description:

Trace the biblical story through the art available on the Visual Museum of Women in Christianity (visualmuseum.gallery). Explore the various features of the online, curated site of visual images that highlight women in the history of the church. You will learn how to utilize various search features to find imagery and content for academic research and for devotional and contemplative practice. The conversation will invite you to think about how the stories of these women can inform your own faith journey.

Susy Flory (DMin, Houston Theological Seminary) is the New York Times bestselling author of nineteen books. Recent titles include Jesus Was (Kregel) and Holy Disruptor (Zondervan). Her 2014 book The Unbreakable Boy was made into a major motion picture by Lionsgate Studios. A UCLA graduate, Susy directs West Coast Christian Writers and founded Everything Memoir. She graduates with her doctoral degree in December and lives in Volcano, CA.

Workshop Description:

Discover the remarkable tradition of women writers from Enheduanna—the world's first named author (ca. 2334 BC)—through biblical times. This workshop explores how women contributed to biblical narratives, challenging assumptions about literacy in the ancient world. Learn how these pioneering voices told their stories, then be inspired to start your own writing journey. Participants receive practical templates to begin crafting personal narratives. Follow the 4,000-year-old tradition of women who wrote—your story matters.

Jazmine Sánchez (ThM, Dallas Theological Seminary) earned her bachelor’s degree in education from Universidad Madero, complemented by art studies at the Taller Libre de Artes Plásticas in Puebla, Mexico. In addition to her ThM, she has also pursued courses in the Art History Department at Universidad Iberoamericana in Mexico City, and in the drawing & painting program at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Jazmine has participated as a teacher assistant for the Medieval Art and Spirituality summer course from Dallas Theological Seminary in northern Italy since 2019, and she recently completed a fellowship at the Sacred Art School of Florence. Jazmine currently teaches art in the Chicago urban area and is a Fund for Teachers 2025 Fellow.

Workshop Description:

Iconography holds a significant place in the history of Christianity, serving as a visual narrative of the faith's rich and intricate tapestry. For over a millennium, images have been used to convey the stories, teachings, and values that are central to Christian belief. By exploring the rich tradition of iconography, we can deepen our relationship to God, as it encourages believers to reflect on their faith and the lives of the saints, fostering a devout and profound connection to our spiritual heritage, and enriches our Christian journey with insight and inspiration.

Karen Fletcher Smith (MA, Northern Seminary) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the intersection of creativity and spirituality. Through oil painting, photography, and watercolor, she seeks to uncover and share the beauty found in nature, art, and faith. She is the artist in residence through Fuller Seminary’s Brehm Center and St. Cornelius Episcopal Church in Belton, TX. She is also currently illustrating a book called Veiled Women with Dr. Scot McKnight and Dr. Lucy Peppiatt. In addition to her visual art, Karen enjoys writing and guest preaching, blending her artistic talents with spiritual insights. You can find her preaching with a paintbrush at https://www.karenfletchersmith.com/.

Workshop Description:

In this workshop we will utilize watercolors to paint biblical women using art, storytelling, and our theological imaginations. Stepping into our role as co-creators, we’ll set a scene with a biblical woman that we will then render through watercolor. Creative tools will be provided, no artistic experience necessary. All participants will have their own theological work of art to take home.

Dr. Josephine Stringer (PhD, Dallas Baptist University) is a professional librarian and theologian who explores the way that literature and story informs theology. Dr. Stringer currently works for the Center of Women in Leadership, a non-profit organization dedicated to equipping, supporting, and promoting women in the academy, the marketplace, and the church. As part of her role with the Center, she is the director of the Visual Museum of Women in Christianity, an online, curated visual exhibit of women in the history and ministry of the church. Josephine also serves in the women’s ministry of her local church, Ecclesia, and is the curator for the Nostoi Bookshare, a reading ministry for the unhoused community of Houston, Texas.

Workshop Description:

Trace the biblical story through the art available on the Visual Museum of Women in Christianity (visualmuseum.gallery). Explore the various features of the online, curated site of visual images that highlight women in the history of the church. You will learn how to utilize various search features to find imagery and content for academic research and for devotional and contemplative practice. The conversation will invite you to think about how the stories of these women can inform your own faith journey.

Shala Wilson (MA, Savannah College of Art and Design) is an uncompromised voice for change, challenging people to live a life that courageously chases their calling. As a creative entrepreneur and minister, she is committed to using her voice to unleash the freedom to thrive as she walks with the theologically marginalized and abused. Passionate about the local church and marketplace ministry, she loves creating a safe space for people to banish faulty thinking and encounter God. Shala studied women and theology at Northern Seminary and is pursuing her doctor of ministry at Houston Theological Seminary.

Workshop Description:

From the Annunciation to Pentecost, the Madonna has been a central figure in Christian art, embodying faith, courage, and devotion. In this workshop, we will explore depictions of Mary in paintings and sculpture that capture her humanity and her faith. Together we will reflect on the theological meaning behind gestures, symbols, and expressions that point us back to Christ. Participants will also gain practical guidance for thoughtfully and skillfully photographing sacred art without glare, blur, or distraction.