Corita Kent

Corita Kent (1918 – 1986) was an American artist and former Catholic nun known for her vibrant, text-based screenprints blending Pop Art with social justice and spirituality.

In 1936, she joined the Order of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in Los Angeles, becoming Sister Mary Corita. By the 1960s, influenced by Pop Art, she used commercial imagery and bold typography to spread messages of love, hope, and activism, reinterpreting ads and biblical references to address poverty, racism, and war. In 1968, she left the order and moved to Boston, where her work became more political, tackling civil rights and the anti-war movement. Her bold, colorful prints remain influential, bridging art and activism.

In collaboration with the Corita Art Center and the Collège des Bernardiens, RHIZOMA is presenting 9 historical works by Corita Kent for the first time in Belgium.

In the 1960s, Corita Kent used her art to merge pop culture, social activism, and spiritual reflection. After discovering pop art in 1962, she transformed everyday commercial imagery—like the Wonder Bread logo—into meditations on social justice, compassion, and human connection, as seen in works such as Enriched Bread and Wonderbread.

During the late 1960s, Kent became a vocal advocate for civil rights and anti-war movements. Prints like Stop the Bombing (1967) and For Emergency Use Soft Shoulder (1966) combined bold typography and vibrant colors with urgent calls for peace and empathy. In the Heroes and Sheroes series (1968–69), including A Passion for the Possible, Phil and Dan, and The Cry That Will Be Heard, she emphasized collective action, unity, and optimism, reflecting her belief that positive change is possible and essential.

Kent’s work transforms the everyday—language, logos, household brands—into profound reflections on justice, spirituality, and human experience. Her art invites viewers to see the world through a lens of heightened awareness, compassion, and engagement, challenging us to consider how ordinary life can inspire social and personal transformation.

enriched bread (1965) 75.56 x 92.07 cm
people like us (1965) 58.42 x 63.5 cm
bread and toast (1965) 42.54 x 67.31 cm
apples are basic (1966) 76.2 x 91.44 cm

stop the bombing (1967) 48.36 x 58.42 cm
the cry that will be heard (1968) 55.88 x 29.21
phil and dan (1969) 57.15 x 29.21 cm
a passion for the possible (1969) 58.42 x 30.48 cm
for emergency use soft shoulder (1966) 76.2 x 91.44 cm