Roy Lichtenstein (1923-1997) was a leading figure in the pop art movement. He grew up on the West Side of Manhattan and was educated at Ohio State University. Along this way he found a particular and successful niche in the world of art.

Lichtenstein’s style was based on tongue-in-cheek imitation. He was inspired by comic strips and advertising. He took images from these sources and created parodies of them. He restated and exaggerated with oil and various printing techniques. He played with these art mediums and with cropping and enlargement to take a small image to grand places. He was said to have painted comic strips with a museum in mind and to have taken low art to high art status. These seem fitting observations as his works now hang at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. and prestigious museums around the world.

Lichtenstein’s story can leave us with many questions. The “how” of this story seems to join the mysteries of faith, beauty, human gifts, inspiration. Could these actually all be the same mystery?

I wish you time to wonder on this question; to look for places where these mysteries meet in your own life; and to give thanks to our God for vision, for awareness, for questions, and sometimes answers.

In gratitude, faith and hope,

Sandy Prouty
Minister of Children and Families
Montview Church