Lemon Jesus is an invitation to practice creative hospitatlity – making room for ourselves, for one another and for creativity.
— Vikki Ward
Welcome
Originally painted by Pompeo Batoni in 1767, Sacred Heart of Jesus became one of the most widely recognised images of the Sacred Heart. In 2010, artist Vikki Ward thrifted an old printed reproduction of the work and soon painted a lemon in place of the heart. This act emerged during a whirlwind period of serious health struggles, reframed through humour, faith, and lightness in the eyes of Jesus.
The image quickly became a fixture in the flat she was living in at the time, remaining on the bathroom wall for years after she moved out. The face of Jesus, holding the large luminous lemon, bore witness to daily rituals — brushing teeth, washing faces, the intimate rhythms of ordinary life. Years later, the image returned to live with her once again. Still hanging on a bathroom wall, Jesus continues to share these moments, present by the basin, pondering life alongside her.