Nikolas Martin ’25, a junior majoring in fashion design and management, explores the weaponization of Christianity against Black and LGBTQ+ people in America in his new exhibit, “Our Rapture.” A mixed media art exhibit, it uses fashion, sculpture, photography and film to explore the subject and  coincides with the Cornell University Freedom of Expression theme year.

The six pieces in the exhibit draw from Martin’s research into Black and LGBT history and biblical scholarship, but are designed to generate emotion rather than factual arguments. In a pair of photographs, the first shows a gun wrapped in a rosary pointed at the head of a Black man; in the second, a Black man is holding the body of another. Sheepskin and raw wool have been augmented with faux blood. A Bible casts a shadow over a stack of banned books written by Black authors.

“This exhibit is meant to feel uncomfortable,” said Martin. “I hope that after viewing the pieces in this exhibit, people will want to reflect on the histories of Black and LGBTQ+ people both past and present.”

Martin, who grew up in the South, and identifies as Black, queer and Christian, was inspired by his own experiences navigating religious racism and homophobia. The intersection of his personal experience and his art required him to take wellness breaks during the making process.

This exhibit is funded by the Cornell Council for the Arts, a university-wide cultural organization that provides a platform for the creation of and public discourse on the contemporary arts on campus.

“Our Rapture” is on display in the Jill Stuart Gallery, Human Ecology Building through November 10, 2023.