according to Christian theology, God created Adam in his image. Adam was in effect the first self portrait, the original work of art, and the source of all other art (created by his descendants, all people).
God's creation of man is complicated by the fact that he effectively created man mortal. Man suffers and dies, and this is an integral part of his design. This is seen when God takes on flesh (Jesus); he suffers and dies on the cross (as we all do metaphorically). I have thus made this self portrait in which i depict myself at the moment of creation. I touch the cable release trigger (shaped like a cross), inspiriting my creation with life (or artistic content at least), but the shutter cable is simultaneously coiled about the neck of my creation, catching it in a noose. This physically demonstrates the nature of art: art relies on creation (the artist making original content), and destruction (art derives its poignancy and beauty from it's fragile, temporary nature. even statues of marble eventually crumble to dust).