As Peter remarked, "It can be hard to talk about art because, as with so many other 'big words,' there is little agreement as to what it is." The same, I find, is true for "spiritual." Many people I know prefer that term because it feels more encompassing of experience than does the word "religious," which is generally identified with the rites and rituals of institutionalized systems. One exception is how British-born U.S. lawyer Louis Nizer (1902-1994) described religion: True religion is the life we lead, not the creed we profess.
The broad nature of "spirituality" lends itself to diverse meanings. Peter defines spirituality as "engaging, in profoundly serious fashion, with the core of life" and describes an artist who has done so as someone who "invites the viewer/listener/reader/etc. to do the same--in other words, to be more truly and deeply alive in the moment, which is always unutterably precious."
Questions and Comments:
What is "real" or "true" art for you? Does it have to include a spiritual aspect? How do you define it?
What artists appeal to your sense of spirituality? Which particular works reflect it?
Do you have a spiritual intention in your own art practice? If so, what is it?