My painting, “”Coming Out at the Last Supper,” will be part of an exhibition happening in July at L’Antiquaille, a museum of Christianity in Lyon, France, as part of a larger exhibition put on by the Archdiocese of Lyon on depictions of the Last Supper in Art. My painting is in the final section of the exhibition labeled “Blasphemy? Maybe not.” This part of the exhibition asks viewers to think about how queer artists are exploring aspects of inclusion in the ministry of Christ.

I am SO honored to be part of this exhibition. My painting was found online by the person curating the exhibition and I was asked in 2025 if I wanted to be a part of it.

Many artists have depicted the Last Supper. It’s a popular tableau. It’s also been a part of marketing–since it is so famous. Anytime you have everyone on one side of a table, you have the chance of making the tableau. Try it at home!

It’s easy to do, even accidentally. In the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, there was a controversial staging of a part of the Opening Ceremonies, where drag performers, enjoying a Dionysian feast on stage, were criticized for (possibly) forming/ staging the famous tableau from Da Vinci’s Last Supper. This time, perhaps because it was queer people performing, it was seen as mocking Christianity. The performers said they were trying to talk about the wide inclusion celebrated in France and Paris specifically, that Paris invites everyone to enjoy the feast. So there was a question over how you can depict the Last Supper. I don’t know that there’s a direct correlation to this exhibition. But it is food for thought.

I painted “Coming Out at the Last Supper” in early 2024 as part of a Lenten and Eastertide group of paintings depicting Christian events in the life of Christ before and after Easter through a queer lens. Queer being a WIDE lens meaning rethinking all sorts of things—

I painted Jesus hugging Mary when SO many people believe Christ wouldn’t allow her to hug him.

I painted Jesus appearing to the disciples to show them his hand but I have the light coming through the hole in his hand.

I painted the Road to Emmaus in the style of Mary Engelbright.

I had fun.

Coming Out at the Last Supper

I had heard so many stories of queer people who come out to their families at dinners, often BIG dinners, like Easter dinner, Christmas, Thanksgiving dinners. It makes sense to do that, in some ways. All of your family is together in one place–something rare as you get older. You have something you want to share with them that is very personal and important. It is a beautiful thing you want to share. No one “comes out” to shock their families and friends–and they certainly don’t WANT negative reactions. They come out to share who they are. To reveal, to become closer.

We share all sorts of personal announcements at dinners, don’t we? “We’re having a baby!” or “We’re getting married!” or “I just had something published in the New York Times!” We may have grown up with lots of great moments at the dinner table telling our parents how school is going, what kind of discoveries we made today around the neighborhood. So it’s natural to share at the dinner table.

Jesus also shared at the dinner table. The Last Supper was full of revelation for him—“someone will betray me” and oh, Judas, it’s you. Earlier he came out as the Son of God. He teaches them here how to make dinner into a way to honor their relationship with him.

Judas abruptly leaves Jesus’ last supper, called out by Jesus as a betrayer, and then Jesus is arrested later.

Some people come out to their families and are deeply supported by them. However, this is a recent development over the last thirty years.

Many queer people who came out at the dinner table in earlier decades were truly shocked to find out how upset their families were. Often it was a “Last Supper” for them too.

I thought there was some interesting parallels to Jesus coming out as the Son of God— a blasphemy that he was crucified for– and queer people coming out as queer. Both are about identity. Who are you? Can those who are closest to you understand who you really are?

Details of the exhibition are still forthcoming so I will tell you more when I know!

Anyway, I’m excited about the exhibition. If you are in France in July or afterwards (I’m not sure how long the exhibition will be up), and you get to see this exhibition, would you snap a picture of yourself with the painting? I would love that.