Finding God's creation in Art

By Marty Denzer | Photos by Megan Marley and Mike Jones

Rising toward the ceiling above the altar of Christ the King Church is an imposing, framed 10’ x 6’ painting of the Crucifixion, the Sorrowing Mother and Saint Mary Magdalene. The artist, James Langley, is an American figurative painter whose work develops forms that are “recognizably derived from life,” as his website states. In other words, there is a realness to his figures.

James Langley

His liturgical work, Langley said, “is inspired by faith and the presence of God in the sacraments.” Christ the King is one of two churches in the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph to display his artwork. In addition to the Crucifixion altarpiece, a Madonna and Child hangs in the St. Julian Peter Eymard Perpetual Adoration Chapel in the church. There is a Langley Divine Mercy painting at St. Andrew the Apostle Church in Gladstone.

In addition to liturgical art, Langley’s work encompasses portraiture, figure art, murals and decorative botanical studies. The artist, 61, grew up in Colorado, where his art-loving mother supplied him with a camera, paper and art supplies with which he entertained himself inside the house and outdoors, instead of watching TV. Inspired by his mother, entertainment grew into a love of drawing, he said.

After attending Catholic schools, he earned advanced degrees from the Rhode Island Academy of Art and the New York Academy of Art.

Originally a studio artist, Langley taught art for 15 years at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. In the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic drove professors and teachers worldwide into virtual platforms, but, Langley said, it’s difficult to teach art online. Recently, Langley returned to his studio.

His architectural ornament work is exhibited at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art; his religious art at Opus Dei- Rome and Our Lady of Guadalupe Seminary in Denton, Neb.; and other works in the U.S., Ireland, France, Spain, Italy (including a Vatican traveling exhibit), Finland and Portugal. Langley said, “To me, art is a way to find God in creation.” Which brings us back to Christ the King and St. Andrew the Apostle churches in this diocese.

The altar at Christ the King Parish in Kansas City.

Christ the King’s altarpiece was commissioned by then-Bishop Robert Finn in 2013 and installed in early 2015. Langley said the painting involved about 10 months of planning and sketching and three months painting it in oil on Belgian linen. The inscription, “Jesus the Nazarene, King of the Jews,” is in Hebrew, Latin and Greek, and Langley said he consulted with Hebrew, Latin and Greek scholars to ensure accuracy.

When asked why the Blessed Mother is standing with raised arms spread wide, Langley said he portrayed Mary as strong and supporting Jesus, while surrendering to the sorrow and pain she experiences as she watches her son suffer. Her posture is one of receptivity, he said. Mary thus becomes an inspiration to prayer. “Mary and Saint Mary Magdalene represent the Church, and us, being drawn into participation in the Mass, the repetition of Calvary,” he said.

The Madonna and Child painted by Langley for Christ the King's Adoration chapel.

While Langley was working on the altarpiece, at Christ the King other renovations and changes were taking place. With J.E. Dunn as the general contractor, and Mike Jones, a St. Andrew the Apostle parishioner and member of the Kansas City Woodworkers Guild, the sanctuary was redone. The cross was moved to the south wall and the statues of Mary and Joseph found new homes in niches at the front of the sanctuary. The communion rail was rebuilt and the circular altar was removed and replaced with an altar upon a wooden platform rising several feet from the floor. The altar is against the wall, so the priest faces the altar at Mass.

Jones built the altar platform, niches, communion rail and the wood frame for the altarpiece. He also built the glass doored ostensorium for the Adoration Chapel, “to show” the monstrance with the consecrated host, all to Father Greg Lockwood’s specifications. And he became acquainted with James Langley.

A few years ago, a beloved St. Andrew’s parishioner, known for her devotion to the Divine Mercy, died. Jones approached her grandson and his family, offering to build a memorial to her around a Divine Mercy painting. He recommended Langley as the artist. The family agreed, and Langley accepted the commission.

His Divine Mercy representation hangs in the church in a candle-holding wood frame built by Jones, who said there was some criticism that the Divine Mercy didn’t look the same as the well-known image. Jones said, “God spoke to James in his heart, and this image is his answer.”

“God spoke to James in his heart, and this image is his answer.”

The altarpiece and Madonna and Child paintings at Christ the King also speak loud and clear to those who listen. As Father Lockwood said, “We want everyone to know what we’re about here!”