Billie McDaniel is an illustration major whose new body of work explores the themes of identity, faith, and self-perception. Through symbolic imagery and intimate compositions, they examine the complexities of faith, doubt, and self-empowerment. Their current work, “Behold the Lamb,” is an oil painting of a self-portrait that navigates the intersection of vulnerability and strength in the context of religion.

In “Behold the Lamb,” Billie presents themselves by holding a lamb, an image laden with spiritual and cultural significance. Traditionally a lamb is a symbol of sacrifice and purity but, the lamb within this piece holds a new meaning- as it becomes a representation of the artist’s own openness to faith as well as their desire to approach it with pride and dignity. This tension between surrender and self-assertion reflects a broader struggle between inherited belief systems and personal spiritual autonomy. Rather than depicting faith as a passive experience, the piece challenges conventional religious iconography by placing the artist in a position of agency holding and confronting the sacred with intention.

Through this work, Billie invites viewers to reflect on their own relationships with faith and selfidentity. By embracing both reverence and questioning “Behold the Lamb” becomes a meditation on what it means to engage with spirituality on one’s own terms offering a nuanced exploration of the ways in which faith can be both a source of strength and a site of personal reckoning.