Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus is one of the most widespread and beloved Catholic practices, one that has its origins as far back as the eleventh century, and which has been most explicitly promoted since the 17th century after the mystical visions of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. However, despite its venerable history and the countless graces which the faithful have received through it, few (if any) artistic depictions of the Sacred Heart could be counted among the great works that exist within the treasury of Catholic sacred art. Some of the most widespread images present sentimentalized portraits of a Jesus with doe eyes, Pantene hair, and what appears to be rouge on his cheeks, which are at least as likely to discourage devotion as to promote it.

The Sacred Heart deserves better, and so do the Catholic faithful who love this devotion.

For these reasons, Dappled Things is issuing a challenge to artists to create new images of the Sacred Heart that, with God's help, will help more of the faithful enter ever deeper into this devotion. We are looking for images that bring the Church's artistic treasures to the service of Jesus' Sacred Heart. If you would like to make a submission, please keep in mind the following details.

Artistic Guidelines

The judges welcome two-dimensional works with no specific requirements regarding style, media, or artistic tradition. However, it is important to emphasize that we are looking for sacred art. The winning entries, therefore, will not only adhere to the highest artistic standards, but must be images of a nature that is conducive to devotional practice. We encourage artists making submissions to be familiar with the history and spirituality of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, as well as the Church's iconographic and sacred art traditions, whether eastern or western.

Prizes

Three winners will be selected by the judges, along with up to seven additional honorable mentions. By submitting your work, you agree that to publication in the journal if selected. In addition to publication and a complimentary copy of the journal, the top three submissions will receive the following cash prizes:

1st Place: $1000

2nd Place: $300

3rd Place: $200

Submission Deadline

March 31, 2024

Winners

Winners of the Sacred Heart Art Competition will be announced on the Feast of the Sacred Heart, June 7, 2024.

Judges

Matthew Alderman
Project Designer, Cram & Ferguson Architects
Founder, Matthew Alderman Studios

Bernardo Aparicio García
Founder & Publisher, Dappled Things

Co-Sponsor