Revenant (2025)
Death comes in many forms, such as spiritual, emotional, and physical death. Nelson has experienced two of the three (so far). Revenant is a body of work that walks through their thoughts on death, God, their body, and their relationship with Catholicism as a whole.
"Revenant" (2025), oil paint, acrylic, and colored pencil on wood, 8x8'
"Altar" (2025), installation, sizes vary
"Lamb of God" (2025), oil paint, acrylic, and gold leaf on wood panel, 24x18"
"Saint Peter" (2025), oil paint, acrylic, and gold leaf on wood panel, 24x18"
"Mary Before Christ" (2024), oil paint and gold leaf on wood panel, 5x8'
"Judas Iscariot" (2025), oil paint, acrylic, and silver leaf on wood panel, 18x24"
"The Flock" (2025), oil paint and acrylic on wood panel, 24x18"
"Saint Paul" (2025), oil paint, acrylic, and gold leaf on wood panel, 18x24"
"Rosary Wall" (2025), installation (taxidermy deer, handmade rosaries), sizes vary
“Significantly, Revenant covers my loss of faith (spiritual death), mainly depicted in the titular piece. I based this painting on Christ calling out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” as He hung on the cross (Matthew 27:46). I, too, felt forsaken in my darkest moments, and believed I had been left for dead by God.
Like Christ, I was resurrected from that state. I eventually managed to find my way back to my faith, with much influence from my grandmother. She showed me a loving, beautiful side of Catholicism that revived me. Still, I have not been able to disentangle the concepts of death with my understanding of Catholicism, no matter how hard I try. Revenant as a whole discusses the deaths and rebirths present in every step of every faith journey, from Mary, to the Apostles, to my own life.”
-Nelson