Herman C. Du Toit

“Never before in Latter-day Saint literature, has there been such a poignant examination of the power of devoutly consecrated fine art to lead us to Christ. For Herman du Toit moral instruction and inspiration through the visual representations of virtue and example is the transcendent aim for art of the Restoration. Du Toit has produced a seminal treatise for everyone who cares about truth, beauty and the Gospel way.”

–Vern Swanson, Art Historian and Director Emeritus of the Springville Museum of Art, Utah - commenting about "Masters of Light: Coming unit Christ through Inspired Devotional Art."

Herman du Toit is the author of several books on art and the Christian faith: “Masters of Light – Coming unto Christ through Inspired Devotional Art” (Cedar Fort, 2016), “Art and Spirituality – The Visual Culture of Christian Faith” (BYU Studies, 2008), and “Art, Belief, Meaning” (BYU Studies, 2006).

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, he has had an extensive career in the visual arts - ever since his sixth grade teacher awarded him a book prize for his very first charcoal drawings. As former head of the School of Fine Arts at the Durban University of Technology in South Africa, he successfully petitioned for the provision of K-12 art education in the schools of the segregated Zulu people in the years before Apartheid was abolished. He holds postgraduate degrees in art history, studio sculpture, and sociology of education from the former University of Natal, in South Africa. At BYU he completed a doctorate in educational leadership and he was awarded a J. Paul Getty fellowship for his PhD study of interpretive practices at some of America’s leading art museums.

Following this award he was appointed head of education and research at the Brigham Young University Museum of Art. During this period he also curated exhibitions by some of the country’s most celebrated sculptors - Albert Paley, Brower Hatcher, Richard Hunt, Judy Pfaff - and served as lead educator for the museum’s most acclaimed religious exhibitions. He convened numerous symposia and lecture series including the MOA’s biennial Art, Belief, Meaning symposium that drew presentations by some of the country's most talented artists, art writers, and commentators over the years. He retired from the museum in 2011 to continue his writing and to establish his own photogravure studio: www.dutoitphotogravure.us