What Makes Art “Majestic”? A Biblical Definition of Excellence

“Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.” (Psalm 104:1)

What makes a piece of art truly majestic?

Is it the technical skill? The emotional impact? The size, the colors, the price tag? The very word 'majestic' is all but forgotten in our culture today. It echoes of the glory of bygone ages, when men still reached for the stars in the hope of glimpsing the face of God.

At The Majesty Project, we believe that majestic art is something transcendent. It's not just beautiful for beauty’s sake, but reflective of the One who is beauty. As our culture drifts further from truth and objectivity, it's worth asking: what actually makes art majestic in the eyes of God?

Majesty Begins with God

When Scripture speaks of majesty, it's nearly always in reference to God’s glory, splendor, and power. Psalm 104:1 declares, “Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty.” Psalm 29:4 tells us “The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.” These are a few of the many verses describing God directly as being majestic.

If God is the source of majesty, then art that reflects Him should mirror that same depth of splendor and truth. Majestic art doesn’t just impress—it points upward. It doesn’t just stir emotion—it stirs awe.

Excellence Is God-Ordained

One of the most powerful examples of God-ordained artistry is found in Exodus 31, where God calls Bezalel and fills him with “the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills” to build the tabernacle.

God didn’t just choose a skilled craftsman—He also equipped him for the task.

Majestic art, then, isn’t just about being good at what you do. It’s about being Spirit-led, seeking excellence not for attention or acclaim, but as an act of worship.

Colossians 3:23 reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord…” When our hands create as an extension of worship, the result is more than technique—it carries weight. God can use the work of our hands to bring His presence to those around us.

Beauty Rooted in Truth

Our modern culture often reduces the definition of beauty to personal preference or emotional impact. It accepts - and even promotes - distortions and ironies as 'beautiful'. But biblically, beauty is tied directly to truth. Philippians 4:8 gives us a filter: “Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable…”—these are the things worthy of reflection.

Majestic art doesn’t glorify distortion or chaos. It doesn’t tear down without building up. Instead, it reflects a world that, despite its brokenness, was created good and is being redeemed.

At the same time, pause for a moment and note the word ‘true.’ Many Christian artists are afraid to portray the brokenness around them, even through the eyes of redemption. But even in Christ’s parables, he didn’t shy away from depicting the reality of pain and suffering - yet he painted it in the light of hope and salvation. As Christian artists, we are also called to be honest about the world we live in, yet viewed through the light of Jesus’s salvation.

Awe Is the Mark of Majesty

Majesty is always tied to awe.

Think of Isaiah 6 - when Isaiah sees the throne room of God, he is undone. True majesty reminds us of our smallness and God’s greatness. It constantly reflects on the power that God has over our circumstances. Rather than despairing in those circumstances, it lifts our eyes above the temporary hardships to the eternal awe we will experience in heaven.

Great art can do the same.

Majestic art awakens wonder, conviction, and ultimately worship. It moves us not just emotionally, but spiritually. It reminds us we were made for more than this world.

“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” - Psalm 121:1-2

Humility Over Hype

In today’s art world, it’s easy for artists and art connoisseurs alike to get caught up in the art’s worth, social algorithms, and gallery openings - the hustle and bustle of a large, yet spiritually void industry. But majestic art is not about these temporary things. It’s not about being seen—it’s about making God seen.

2 Corinthians 4:7 says, “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”

Majestic art flows from humility. It recognizes that artistic gifts are just that—gifts—and the artist’s role is to steward them for God’s glory, not their own.

So, What Does Majestic Art Look Like?

Here are a few characteristics that begin to define it:

It’s Spirit-filled and prayerfully created

It’s rooted in truth, not trend

It strives for excellence, not perfectionism

It points upward, not inward

It evokes awe, not just admiration

It inspires hope, not despair

Why It Matters

In an age of abstraction, confusion, and ironic work, majestic art cuts through the noise and pierces the soul. It offers something eternal in a culture obsessed with the temporary. It reminds us that beauty, truth, and goodness are still real—and they still matter. The same God who flung a thousand, thousand galaxies into space and holds them in His hand dwells within us, and He is still creating majesty today.

At The Majesty Project, we believe that God is calling artists to rise up—not to shout into a void, but to reflect true beauty. Not to chase fame or finances, but to reflect the majesty of the Creator. A generation of artists who will glorify God through their humble response to the call, rather than seek attention.

Because when we create from a place of reverence and excellence, our art becomes more than decoration—it becomes a visible glimpse at the majesty of our God.