Paintings > Queerly Faithful

To Be A Sanctuary
To Be A Sanctuary
Acrylic paint on Omega Bond
4' x 46"
2024

This painting reflects a time when Nate felt unsafe in the church environment and constructed his own protective sanctuary to move through that space without becoming a target. The work emerged from a place of fear in response to harmful church actions, visualizing the psychological barriers one must sometimes create for survival and self-preservation within hostile religious spaces.

This series of paintings, created between 2015-2025, documents Nates personal journey as a queer individual emerging from a conservative evangelical background. Drawing inspiration from culture, film, literature, biblical narratives, and art history, the collection visualizes the complex intersection of queer identity and Christian faith, seeking to share truth, promote understanding, and contribute to envisioning a
more inclusive, peaceful future.