Psalm 15—Artwork
Learn more about Christ in the Psalms weekly artwork and see previous pieces here.
Kate Turner
About the Artist • About the Piece
Kate Turner is a brand designer and illustrator at STONE Strategy and Design in Golden, Colorado. Beyond her creative work, she finds joy in snowboarding, history podcasts, figure skating, and serving on Sundays as “Miss Kate” with Park Kids.
When I first read Psalm 15, I kept returning to David’s question: “Lord, who can dwell in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain?” This question became the foundation for this piece. In both Scripture and my artwork, the tent and mountain symbolize the meeting place of heaven and earth, where God opens His sacred presence through Jesus Christ. Scripture often depicts mountains as places where people encounter God. Even Eden was a garden oasis atop a mountain, where God and man lived together. As the story unfolds, humanity is separated from its home, and Psalm 15 poses a sobering question: Is there anyone who can truly dwell on God’s holy mountain again? Abraham, Moses, Elijah, David, and others ascend mountains to meet God, but none can remain there. The greatest leaders, prophets, kings, and intercessors fall short. Their lives foreshadow the one who would truly fulfill the righteous life described in this Psalm: Jesus. He endured temptation on a mountain, remained faithful through every test, and ultimately gave up his life. Just as the morning dawned on the third day, the beams of light over the mountains represent the hope that humanity will dwell with God again. Similarly, the tent at the center of my piece reminds us that God desires intimacy, not grand architecture. In 2 Samuel 7, He tells David of His willingness to dwell in a humble tent that traveled with His wandering people rather than in a permanent palace. The tent’s front pole is meant to be a carved branch from the tree on the hill, symbolizing Jesus opening access to the “Holy of Holies” through His death on the cross. From this Tree of Life flows a bubbling stream, echoing themes from Genesis and Revelation. As the water pours over the cliff, it becomes a symbol of God’s mercies and life flowing from mountain heights into our world.
