Museum of the Bible Announces New Art Initiatives
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 10, 2026 — Museum of the Bible is honored to announce the acquisition of the Bowden Collection, along with the establishment of the Bowden Family Endowment, which will fund the creation of a new art gallery and new art initiatives at the museum and beyond.
“Museum of the Bible is dedicated to inviting all people to engage with the transformative power of the Bible,” said Dr. Bobby Duke, chief curatorial officer at Museum of the Bible. “Art has always been a way for individuals to experience the story and impact of the Bible in beautiful and personal ways. Thanks to the generous donations of Bob and Sandra Bowden, this new gallery will allow people of all ages to experience the Bible visually and reflect on the narrative of the Bible in new, and sometimes surprising, ways.”
Sandra Bowden is an artist and lifelong art collector, co-founder of Christians in the Visual Arts (CIVA) and a former board member of Museum of Biblical Art (MoBiA). Her own award-winning artwork has been featured in solo and group exhibits across the country, in papers and books, and has provided opportunities for guest lectures at institutions like Duke University, ARTSCharlotte, Baylor University and more.
Museum of the Bible and the Bowden Collections have previously partnered for two special exhibits, “Descent from the Cross,” and “Ecce Homo: Behold the Man.” In 2025, Museum of the Bible and the Bowden family established the Bowden Family Endowment with the dream of creating a strong foundation of biblical art to research, display and share with the museum's guests.
“Collecting biblical art has been an important part of my life for over 45 years. I believe it is important to preserve the church’s visual heritage for coming generations,” said Sandra Bowden. “These works offer insight, understanding and illuminate the Bible, helping us to ‘see the Scriptures.’ We are so thankful that the Museum of the Bible will have our art and extend this vision to the many who come to be inspired by the Bible.”
The new art gallery will be named “The Bowden Gallery of Biblical Art” and will feature a rotation of various art exhibits year-round, renewing Museum of the Bible’s emphasis on the arts. Some of the pieces being transferred to the museum’s ownership include Marc Chagall’s Bible Series, Georges Rouault’s entire Miserere series, a selection of German Expressionist’s biblical art and Alfred Manessier’s "Suite de Pâques." Along with the arts initiatives, this generous donation will be used to create a traveling exhibition program focused on bringing biblical art around the country and the world.
“We are excited to embark on this new journey to enhance the presence of art at Museum of the Bible,” says Amy Van Dyke, Curator of Art and Traveling Exhibitions at Museum of the Bible. “We believe that art can connect people to the stories of the Bible in unique and emotional ways. We look forward to sharing our new collection with our visitors and with the world.”
The new art gallery will be opening November 2026 and located on Floor 2, as part of the Impact of the Bible exhibitions.
About Museum of the Bible
Museum of the Bible invites all people to engage with the transformative power of the Bible. Located just three blocks from the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., the stunning 430,000-square-foot museum showcases rare and fascinating artifacts spanning 4,000 years of history and immersive experiences exploring the Bible. In addition to its educational programs, exhibits and experiences, Museum of the Bible hosts the beautiful 472-seat World Stage Theater. To learn more, visit museumoftheBible.org.
Contact: Kellie Koch, PR Manager, press@mBible.org