“Look Toward the Heavens: The Art of He Qi,” an exhibit of sacred art by renowned Chinese artist He Qi, is on display at Concordia Seminary, in the gallery of the Concordia Historical Institute, now through January 2010. The exhibit is made up of 43 artist proof giclée prints, most of which are 30” by 30”.

As part of the exhibit, He Qi will be visiting the Concordia Seminary campus on October 22-23.

One of China’s most internationally celebrated contemporary artists, He Qi has been committed to the creation of modern Chinese sacred art since 1983. In his works, he has blended together Chinese folk customs and painting techniques with the western art of the Middle Ages and modernism, creating original color-on-paper paintings.

“A generation ago, Concordia Seminary discovered the preeminent Asian sacred art of Sadao Watanabe,” commented Travis Scholl, managing editor of theological publications. “Now, with He Qi, we welcome to St. Louis arguably the most distinguished Asian sacred artist working today.”

He Qi was the first among mainland Chinese to earn a Ph.D. in religious art after the Cultural Revolution. He wrote his dissertation while studying at the Hamburg Art Institute in Germany, and was a professor at the Nanjing Union Theological Seminary. His work has included exhibitions in Kyoto, Hong Kong, Geneva, London, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Yale, Princeton, and now St. Louis.

The Concordia Historical Institute is located on the campus of Concordia Seminary at 804 Seminary Place in Clayton, Missouri. It is open from Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 4:00 p.m. For more information, please call 314-505-7117. To view He Qi’s work online, please visit www.heqigallery.com.