Grace Saint is a Queer Christian Rat leading a deconstructed and inclusive RAT ART ministry.

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Avant garde contemporary Christian, Saint navigates their own faith deconstruction and the exploration of universal mysticism as a non-binary and non-denominational artist. Their practice is aimed at queer people or those who have otherwise felt ostracised by The Church aiming to impart a sense of peace and enlightenment through intimate encounters with divine Truth, rather than fostering the fear of God perpetuated by The Institution. Saint often documents their performative works with photograms made during the ceremonial and meditative rituals whilst also engaging with obscured venerable figurative outcomes. 

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Saint’s relationship with the domesticated rat is a central aspect of their work and in particular their performances. On a mostly unconscious level Saint has worked alongside and with their pet rats to reflect on the major underlying themes of their work including the idea of the mother, grief and mourning. Saint has had the pleasure of caring for nine rats in the past four years, three of which have also happened to be transgender. In many ways the works created with The Rats are collaborations and revelations, collaborations that are as inherent to the practice as divine interventions at the hands of God.

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Grace Saint's practice includes performance, sculptural installation, painting, photography, experimental video, and curatorial projects. Their work frequently explores the archetypal and symbolic accounts of ritual in Judeo-Christian religion with a particular interest in ways these echo with traditional cultures and spiritual practices throughout the world. Stylistically their work is influenced by and draws on the powerful iconography of their Catholic upbringing that include heightened sensibility in the use of  light and use of iconography associated with the Catholic faith.  The artists intention is to use their art to contribute to on-going critique of what constitutes an archetypal, transformative, religious experience within dominant Western religion.

- Professor Kathleen Rogers

 

Grace’s curiosity is extremely endearing. While the core themes of their work have a consistency, each iteration of their ideas are developed through research and continuous questioning. We want to congratulate Grace’s honesty with grappling with the difficult area of contemporary religion and divinity. 

- The Margate School

 

Grace is a multi skilled artist, curator and writer, who consistently organises and facilitates arts events while also developing their own practice. Religion, iconography and spirituality is the thematic undercurrent to the artworks which manifest as anything from paintings and sculptures to performances and installations. Grace's works are considered, asking the viewer to reflect on themselves in the context of religious or spiritual structures that may surround us. Drawing on art history as well as contemporary works, their knowledge and eye for curation is broad, which is proven in their delivery of several successful curatorial projects.

- Ellen Ball