Date of Award
4-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2025
Degree Name
Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL)
Director
Kathryn R. Barush
Abstract
This thesis explores how secular artworks can serve as sites of profound spiritual encounter by focusing on The First Supper (Galaxy Black), a monumental sculpture by Bahamian artist Tavares Strachan. Created outside of religious commission and exhibited in the heart of London, this contemporary reinterpretation of the biblical Last Supper offers a compelling space for spiritual reflection, particularly through the lens of African and African diasporic identities . Strachan's visual language brings together historical figures of African descent, reimagining sacred narratives through a contextual and inclusive lens.
By inviting figures such as Haile Selassie, Harriet Tubman, Shirley Chisholm, and Marsha P. Johnson to the banquet, Strachan challenges Eurocentric portrayals of the sacred and expands the meaning of discipleship and communion. It proposes a banquet that reflects the diversity, resilience, and sacred worth of Black cultural heritage and marginalized voices. Drawing from the analysis of theology, spirituality, art historians, and Google survey data, the thesis suggests that Strachan' s work functions as a visual contextual theology in a secular space.
By inviting figures such as Haile Selassie, Harriet Tubman, Shirley Chisholm, and Marsha P. Johnson to the banquet, Strachan challenges Eurocentric portrayals of the sacred and expands the meaning of discipleship and communion. It proposes a banquet that reflects the diversity, resilience, and sacred worth of Black cultural heritage and marginalized voices. Drawing from the analysis of theology, spirituality, art historians, and Google survey data, the thesis suggests that Strachan' s work functions as a visual contextual theology in a secular space.
Recommended Citation
Antonio, Natnael S., "Critical Analysis of Tavares Strachan's First Supper (Galaxy Black) as a Prophetic Banquet" (2025). Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations. 153.
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/jst_dissertations/153
