Description
Everybody Needs a Superhero is part of a larger four-year series in which the artist visited 52 churches, synagogues, and spiritual communities across Fort Collins, creating one piece of art inspired by each experience. Originally envisioned as a one-year journey titled One Kairos, One Moment, 52 Weeks, the project evolved into a deeper exploration of spirituality, community, and shared human experience.
This particular piece was inspired by a church that gathered not in a traditional sanctuary, but in a recreation center—challenging the conventional idea that a church is defined by its building. Instead, the message of the sermon emphasized that the church is the people themselves. This realization became central to the artwork’s meaning.
Created around the time of The Lone Ranger (2013), the sermon drew on the relationship between the Lone Ranger and Tonto to illustrate a powerful truth: even heroes need companions. The idea that no one stands alone—that we all need support, guidance, or a “sidekick”—was extended to a spiritual level, suggesting that Jesus can serve as that presence in our lives.
The artwork reflects this theme through a richly layered multimedia composition. At its center is a wooden cross incorporating imagery inspired by Tonto, including beaded elements and feather-like forms. Surrounding it are over 200 stylized, cartoon-like portraits representing individuals from countries around the world, symbolizing the global human community. Interwoven throughout are subtle references to popular superheroes—figures like Batman and others—hidden within the composition as playful yet meaningful symbols of strength, identity, and cultural mythology.
Constructed using digital design, hand painting, found imagery, wood, and polymer coating, the surface has a glass-like sheen that enhances its depth and luminosity. The piece ultimately becomes a visual meditation on connection: between people, across cultures, and within the shared human need for support, belief, and belonging.
