Biography - 80 words

Sue Ellen Parkinson is a visionary artist who explores the Sacred Feminine through her paintings. Coming from outside the Christian tradition, her work has led her on an unexpected journey that has profoundly changed her life. Her non-tradional icons, are interesting from both a philosophical and everyday perspective. Within them, she weaves elements of her own life, into the inspiring legends surrounding the Christian mystics. She is a strong believer, that creativity, is an essential component in transformation.

Artist Statement

In my early sixties, I woke up with a desire for my own, personal, relationship to Christianity. I began by painting the Christian mystics. To the surprise of many of my secular friends, my walls were soon covered with images of Saints. The surprise for me was that, in painting these icons, I fell in love with them.

Painting the Sacred Feminine has given me entrance to the Divine. My experience has been that these icons are supportive guides. In any event, they have led me to the exact place that I belong.

When I first began this journey, I thought, “Who am I to interpret the Christian Saints and the stories that surround them?” Now, I think quite differently. I believe the Holy speaks to everyone—even me. There is no hierarchy in Heaven, only love.

For most of my life I had an aversion to Christianity because of the patriarchal narrative. The way that women were depicted in a negative light, or completely omitted, still creeps out my soul. Those stories, so clearly have been crafted to support the unloving agenda of those in power. It’s time to let them go.

That is why, I feel compelled to take the old stories, and old images and reshape them in such a way that will nurture and support the world. It is the world of inspiration, and healing, that I wish to share with others.

   —Sue Ellen Parkinson