Cincinnati Catholic artist, Holly Schapker, believes that art has the power to change everything. The Xavier University graduate’s paintings have been displayed in the most beautiful churches, universities and libraries across the world, including Brazil, Kenya and Peru. She even had an oil painting of Pope Francis’ mother gifted to the Pope himself in 2015.

“I believe art has a way of opening hearts in a way not possible with mere words,” Schapker explained. “We can’t help but trust the beauty that we see, and draw near to it.”

Schapker was honored recently by The Angelico Project, a local initiative working to draw people closer to God through art, thought and culture. The Executive Director of The Angelico Project, Brad Torline, said her achievements and contributions to Catholic art, used for veneration locally and internationally, made her the obvious choice for the inaugural Fra Angelico Award, named after Blessed Fra Angelico, a Dominican friar and renowned Renaissance artist, who is a patron of artists.

“Holly’s deep spirituality and enthusiasm for honoring God and drawing people closer to Him through art made her the perfect candidate for our inaugural Fra Angelico Award,” Torline said.

Schapker has worked with the Angelico Project as an advisor, teacher and supporter and was humbled by the award, but said she felt she received the acknowledgement at that particular time for a reason. “I believed that God was giving me an opportunity to share from my heart my gratitude for everyone who has helped me in my mission,” she explained.

The connection between God and art didn’t happen early for Schapker, who was raised Catholic but fell away from the Church. It was while working on an exhibit at the Xavier University Art Gallery in 2017 that everything changed for her.

“St. Ignatius Loyola is the reason I started painting sacred art,” she explained. “He was the perfect topic for the show as the founder of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits.”

To prepare for the exhibition, Schapker pilgrimaged through Spain and Italy following in his footsteps, then completed his Spiritual Exercises, laid out for laymen to help them encounter Christ.

“The Spiritual Exercises taught me how to pray creatively with my imagination,” she said. “Painting and praying became one thing.”

Schapker now views herself as an “evangel-artist,” one who tries to evangelize through her art. Her paintings are seen throughout the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and beyond. At Our Lady of the Holy Spirit Center in Norwood, nearly a dozen grace the entrance walls with a new immersive experience entitled “City of Bethlehem.” Her paintings also adorn the Xavier University campus, including a Madonna and Child and a Mother Guadalupe portrait. She has been commissioned to paint the Stations of the Cross for Our Lady of Victory Church in Cincinnati, and both a Pope Francis portrait and Madonna and Child piece hang in the hallway of Mount St. Mary’s Seminary & School of Theology.

In addition, Schapker was invited to demonstrate her painting techniques and creative process to universities around the nation and taught painting courses at Xavier University. She travels the world to give lectures as a creative Catholic and hosts spiritual retreats, including one in February 2025 with The Angelico Project.

However, painting isn’t her only creative outlet to express her love for her faith. Schapker recently published the book, Universal Mother: A Journal for Finding Yourself in Mary, which encourages “Visio Divina,” an ancient form of Christian prayer wherein the faithful use their imagination to enter into a sacred image in silence.

“This book focuses on gazing at art with an open heart,” Schapker explains. “It includes images of my portraits of Mary, to whom I have a strong devotion.”

Co-authored by her friend and art historian Dr. Cecelia Dorger, the book includes 20 of Schapker’s Marian paintings portraying Mary in diverse times and settings. Each painting is accompanied by personal reflections from the artist and Dorger, along with questions to help readers delve into their own experiences and reactions to the painting’s art and theme.

“Art has always been a portal to a deeper realm for Cecelia and myself,” Schapker explained. “It seemed to be a great offering for others to experience this spiritual way of beauty as well.”

The original paintings highlighted in her book are on display at St. Xavier Church, in downtown Cincinnati. Her book can be purchased at St. Xavier Church or on Amazon.

This article appeared in the September 2024 edition of The Catholic Telegraph Magazine. For your complimentary subscription, click here.