Jonathan Pageau | The Christian Imagination and the Question of Autonomous Art

On October 24, 2026, Theopolis welcomed Jonathan Pageau to Toronto to deliver the inaugural Gaudí Lecture, The Christian Imagination and the Question of Autonomous Art. In this lecture, Pageau explores the relationship between Christianity and the modern artistic imagination, examining the idea of autonomous art and questioning the place of art in contemporary culture. The lecture is followed by a conversation with artist and iconographer, I.J. Makan and an audience Q&A. About the Gaudí Lecture Named in honour of the visionary Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, the Gaudí Lecture is an annual initiative of Theopolis that brings distinguished creative figures into public conversation about the importance of the Christian Imagination. About Theopolis Theopolis is a Canadian nonprofit dedicated to supporting the creative, spiritual, and professional development of Catholic artists in Ontario and fostering meaningful encounters between artists and the wider public. Learn more about our work: www.theopolis.ca Support our mission: https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-... Follow us on Instagram:   / theopolis.project   Special thanks to our generous sponsors, St. Francis Herb Farm and St. Joseph Realty, for helping make the inaugural Gaudí Lecture possible. 00:00 Opening Trailer 01:45 Introduction to Jonathan Pageau 02:35 The Christian Imagination and Autonomous Art 05:22 Revelation and the Origins of Christian Art 10:50 Sacred Art and the Architecture of Revelation 13:50 Art, Nature, and Purpose 16:25 Art as Participation and Communion 19:32 Michelangelo and the Rise of the Individual Artist 24:19 The Emergence of Art for Art’s Sake 30:10 Modern Art, Revolution, and Liberation 34:04 Art as Disruption 36:27 The Paradox of a Tradition of Disruption 41:19 Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Art 45:26 Why Art Must Bring People Together 48:01 Recovering the Christian Imagination 55:19 Conversation with IJ Makan: Should Christians Reject Modern Art? 59:08 Museums, Spectatorship, and Participation 1:01:32 Transforming Cultural Institutions 1:03:09 Why Is Contemporary Christian Art So Bad? 1:07:19 AI and the Preservation of Human Creativity 1:12:43 Should Christian Art Be Political? 1:15:20 Audience Q&A 1:15:48 Cultural Identity, Ethnicity, and Unity 1:20:46 The Future of Education and the Humanities 1:22:46 What Makes Us Human in the Age of AI? 1:28:04 Memes, Virtuosity, and Participation 1:35:19 Tradition, Disruption, and the Commodification of Sacred Art 1:41:32 Faith, Art, and Cultural Institutions 1:45:22 Iconography, Tradition, and AI 1:49:53 Closing Remarks