Andres Serrano (b. 1950, New York, USA) is a provocative and highly influential American artist whose photographic work confronts issues of religion, identity, violence, and the boundaries of taste. Working primarily with large-format photography, Serrano employs bold visual language and controversial materials—including bodily fluids and sacred symbols—to interrogate cultural taboos and the nature of representation.

Serrano rose to international prominence with his now-infamous Immersion (Piss Christ) (1987), an image of a crucifix submerged in urine. The work ignited fierce public debate, placing Serrano at the centre of discussions around art, censorship, and public funding. Beyond its controversy, the piece exemplifies Serrano’s longstanding interest in the visual power of iconography and the fragility of reverence.

His broader practice includes series such as The Morgue, America, and Torture, in which he documents subjects ranging from corpses and homeless individuals to military interrogators. Across these bodies of work, Serrano aims not to shock, but to elicit reflection—challenging viewers to confront uncomfortable truths hidden in plain sight.

Serrano’s photographs are both arresting and formally beautiful, drawing from the compositional traditions of classical painting. His work has been exhibited worldwide and is part of major museum collections including the Whitney Museum, MoMA, and the Centre Pompidou.

“ I like to believe that rather than destroy icons, I make new ones. „

—Andres Serrano