TexasJames Madison University Nate Szarmach is an abstract figurative artist who attended school at James Madison University and earned a BFA in Architectural Design. After graduating he spent some time working as an interior designer before transitioning into a full-time painting practice. In 2023 he became the director of the visual arts program at a private school. His work is an exploration of Christian faith, memory, and the human condition. His paintings and drawings are featured in private and public collections worldwide. I was raised in and around the church. As an adult, I am particularly interested in investigating what has informed my faith and ideologies. Western culture is largely influenced by the church and church traditions. I am a product of that. I’m constantly trying to reconcile my deeply rooted ideologies (good and bad) with the context that I exist in and my personal experience. Expressing the collision of faith and personal experience is the ongoing negotiation in my work. As such, my work attempts to wrestle openly with the fears I have around faith, identity, and the human condition.​