Sandra Bowden

February 2025 Issue

by Lesley Kyle
Photography by
Lindsay Pettinicchi Photography, LLC

Sandra Bowden is a collector of beautiful things.

Twenty years ago, Sandra and her husband arrived in the Lowcountry to be near family—two children, four grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren—some of whom were heading toward Savannah. A friend lived in the area, and as an avid golfer, the choice to live in Hilton Head seemed obvious. “We had only a few days to make a decision and bought our house in three hours,” explained Sandra. The rush to find a landing pad resulted from the recent sale of their prior home. With a smile in her voice, Sandra said, “It was a good choice!”

Sandra’s family had roots in central New Hampshire. Her mom’s side of the family received original land grants in the farming community where Sandra was raised. Sandra’s early education took place in a one-room schoolhouse, and her teacher had also taught her mom. Faith was central to Sandra’s upbringing. In the 1960s, it was common for area churches to host art festivals, and a small church invited Sandra to participate and contribute some paintings. “I hadn’t done any religious painting, so it challenged me,” said Sandra. “It was a seminal moment for me and ignited ideas of what might be possible in religious art.” Sandra contributed three pieces to that first festival, including a collage piece that spoke to her.

Sandra moved to Western Massachusetts and studied the Bible for a year at Berkshire Christian College. She then enrolled in the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston and married her high school sweetheart. As a young newlywed, Sandra continued to paint daily and found places to exhibit her art. The couple then moved to Saratoga, New York, where she became acquainted with Christians in the Visual Arts (www.civa.org), an organization founded to create and strengthen connections between the Christian faith and the arts. This introduction was a pivotal, inspirational, and life-changing moment for young Sandra. “CIVA opened up a new world of possibilities to me.” She continued to Empire State College to finish her degree while painting daily.

As a full-time artist, Sandra’s paintings have been displayed around the world, including the Vatican Museum of Contemporary Art. Her expansive collection of religious art is displayed in exhibitions and universities, and nearly 20 of her collections are currently traveling the U.S. and Canada. Sandra is in the process of negotiating terms to donate her entire collection to a major American museum. “I want people to see the Bible,” said Sandra. “Not just read it.”

Closer to home, Sandra has exhibitions to First Presbyterian and Saint Luke’s AnglicanChurches in Hilton Head where both have galleries. Sandra’s exhibitions have been displayed at St. Luke’s for the past five or six years, and Sandra said it’s fun to watch the congregation anticipate its arrival. “Art history is alive,” said Sandra. “There are beautiful things going on everywhere!”

More recently, Sandra’s collection of artworks titled, “Marc Chagall and the Bible” was installed at Saint Luke’s Anglican Church on January 3. A modernist artist, Marc Chagall (1887-1985) was known for a wide-ranging collection of paintings, etchings, and lithographs, but is also known for his religious work featuring stories from the Old Testament. Sandra visited the Marc Chagall National Museum in Nice, France, and left feeling like she attended a worship service. She practices self-immersion in an artist’s life. “If I buy an artist’s work, I buy every book available to learn about the artist,” she said.

Included in the Chagall collection is a series of colorful lithographs titled, “The Verve Series.” Rich in color and detail, these prints capture the ancient but familiar stories of Cain and Abel, Moses Receiving the Tablets of the Law, and many more. You can learn more about these works on Sandra’s website at bowdencollections.com/marc-chagall.html. The collection will reside at St. Luke’s until April 20, and an open house is planned for March. Worship service visitors can also view this collection on Sundays.

At 81, Sandra still works full-time. “I’m a student, not a scholar, and I have never stopped learning. Collecting art is a calling,” she shared. Sandra lectures on Biblical art at universities around the country quite a bit. Sometimes she lectures in tandem with an exhibition. “And with that,” she said, “you have to study.”

Sandra has upcoming trips planned and is working with the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, on an exhibition that will open next month. Her goal is to remain healthy while planning the next home for her extensive art collection. “Art doesn’t have to be shrouded in mystery,” said Sandra. “It’s a language we all speak if we actually see it—and not just look at it.”


Up Close:

Hometown: Chatham, Massachusetts

Years in the Lowcountry: 20 



Fun Fact: Sandra is the oldest of 10 kids

Unique Fact: She’s a golfer and a sailor!



Greatest Inspiration: The Bible and art history