Holy Week 2026 Artwork

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Hello! Welcome to my Holy Week 2026 post! I will have three paintings up for Holy Week at Boise First United Church of Christ.

Here is a piece from years past that Reverend Josh requested of me for this Palm Sunday.

Palm Sunday Arrival

Palm Sunday Arrival (original $499) is a painting and woodblock print depicting Jesus’ joyful entry into Jerusalem on a lowly donkey.

The figure of Jesus is intentionally ambiguous, inviting viewers to imagine themselves as brave agents of love amid powerful opposition. The ground and sky carry an uneasy, foreboding tone, hinting at the betrayal and crucifixion to come.

Jesus brings his message of love to Jerusalem to loud “Hosannas!” He then implores his disciples to “love one another” and washes their feet during the Last Supper. He knows his terrible fate is to be arrested, denied, abused, and crucified. (Stay tuned for Ralph and Andie’s artwork about these events.)

Jesus’ body is entombed, and his followers despair. After several days, Mary Magdalene, mourning deeply, brings spices to treat his body. But when she arrives at the tomb, she finds it empty.

Peter and John rush over, peer in, then leave bewildered. Mary remains to weep alone before the empty tomb.

In her sorrow, she looks into the tomb to find two angels, who ask why she is weeping. Then she turns around to find another figure, and this person, too, asks why she is weeping. She supposes that this fellow is the gardener, but it is actually the risen Christ, who calls her by her name.

Jesus is alive! And this is Easter morning!

I have created two fresh, approximately 3 foot by 4 foot paintings for Easter.

Magnolia Morning

Magnolia Morning (original $699) is a painting about the coming of the light after a deep darkness. A barren tree blossoms wth joy!

This painting came from a sudden vision I had of magnolia blossoms in golden sunlight. It began with burning the trunk and limbs of the tree into the basswood block.

At this point, it looked like a barren tree of Lent, when Christians are introspective and address old unhelpful patterns to clear the way for new beginnings, just as trees relieve themselves of dead leaves and branches.

Easter morning bursts forth in new life and growth and green leaves and blossoms return!

Easter Sunrise

And Easter Sunrise (original $699) shows the empty tomb with the stone rolled away. The earth and sky rejoice!

Halleluia! The risen Christ reminds followers that death does not have the last word!

Conclusion

After the tough but important time of Lent, when followers of Jesus had been examining themselves for more intentional living, Holy Week takes over with the story of Jesus’ life and commandment to love, leading up to the Crucifixion, the darkest day in which all light is extinguished.

This is followed by the other extreme: the earth-shocking joy of the Resurrection.

Just as new life emerges in the spring with baby animals and green growing blossoming nature, for followers of Jesus, Easter marks the opportunity for the goodness within oneself to take new faithful directions and emerge anew!

These paintings will be on display at Boise First United Church of Christ for the Easter season.

I hope these artworks spoke to you in some good and uplifting way. It is my custom to create Holy Week art every year as part of my role as Artist in Residence at my church.

Check out my website for these and past Holy Week works:

I also have the following three, which are part of a 2022 series:

Enjoy! Thank you for supporting the arts!

– Gretchen Weitemier

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