Our 
Story

Biography

Mother Justina is an iconographer painting Orthodox Christian icons and an artist doing primarily figurative painting, portraits and landscapes.
Her artistic journey was shaped by a robust educational foundation. She benefited from exceptional art programs during her schooling in Sweden and earned a certificate in iconography from her father's St. Luke's Icon School. Mother Justina also has a diploma in Portraiture and Landscape. She has a B.A. in film and is currently pursuing an M.F.A. at the Savannah College of Art and Design.

Her professional path led her from teaching art to children and various administrative roles in Stockholm Sweden to a move to the U.S.A. at the age of 21. There, she entered a convent and embarked on a full-time career as an iconographer, a vocation profoundly influenced by her Orthodox faith. She was charged to start a convent icon studio and has worked there for nearly 36 years.

Mother Justina works in various mediums, her icons are often done with acrylics, egg tempera, silica paints, mosaic tessera and gold, while her other paintings are also done in oil, water color, ink and pastel. In her artistic pursuits, Mother Justina draws inspiration from her spiritual beliefs, the community around her, and the natural beauty of her surroundings. Her work in iconography is a convergence of prayer, tradition, and artistic expression. Meanwhile, her other artwork captivates audiences with its immersive and calming presence, guided by her love of experimentation and the refined technique honed through years of diligent practice.
Her work has been featured in the Liberty Arts Gallery and Marble Rim Gallery, garnering accolades including multiple "Best in Show" awards at the CA, Siskiyou Fair. The global reach of her icons, from churches to individual collections, testifies to the universal appeal of her craft. Admirers of her work commend the striking beauty of her icons and the evocative, tranquil essence of her other pieces.

Aside from her full-time artistic endeavors, Mother Justina imparts her knowledge to apprentices and college students, teaching iconography. Her goals extend beyond personal achievements; she aspires to influence society through art, underscoring its profound capacity to shape perceptions and interactions.

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EXPERIENCE

Extra curricular Student experience: 1986- 1989

• Participation in an exhibition of landscape paintings in Stockholm, Sweden

• Teaching art to children in an after-school program

• Working at the College of Fine Arts, Stockholm, as an assistant registrar (while attending

university)

• Working at the Library of Architecture at the Architectural College, Stockholm (also while attending university)

Experience as a working iconographer and artist: 1989 - Present

 All my work, since about 1997 , both iconographical and other styles of art, has been photographed and offered as prints as well

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One of my first commissions in the 1990’s was for the St. John the Baptist Church in Texas.

The painting done for this church took several years. Since then, I have been involved in developing the iconographical programs (i.e. the choices and arrangement of iconography throughout the inside of a church following traditional practices) for many churches.

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Most of the icon orders placed by churches (such as those in the following sampling) have been completed over the course of many years, and some are still ongoing.

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• St. John the Baptist Church, Texas (feast day icons and saints for the walls)

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• St. Gregory Palamas Monastery, California (almost the full iconographical program in the form of murals) The first icons were painted in 1989 but the work is still ongoing.

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• St. Edward Brotherhood, U.K. (murals for the altar and freestanding panel icons for the walls in the altar and the nave)

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• St. Anne’s Church, Connecticut (16 major feast day icons, 12 Apostles, Resurrection mural, Pantocrator mural, Three Children in the furnace mural, Mother of God mural, and 2 Angels) I have ongoing work there.

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• The Dormition Chapel, Washington (“More Spacious than the Heavens“ mural and the iconostasis icons)

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• St. Elizabeth the Grand Duchess Church, Tennessee (a large Crucifix and many panel icons for the walls)

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• Chapel of St. Innocent, Oregon (iconostasis icons)

• St. John of San Francisco Chapel, Ohio (murals and icons for the iconostasis)

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• St. Mary of the Cedars Church, New Hampshire (“More Spacious than the Heavens” mural,2 angels mural, and Pantocrator mural)

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• Church of St. Boniface, U.K. (icons for the iconostasis)

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• Christ the Savior Church, Canada (panel icons of saints for the walls)

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• St. Willebrord Church, the Netherlands (many panel icons for the walls)

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• St. John’s Church, Austria. I am not sure this is the church’s current name or if it has changed. (Many very ornate panel icons, a Crucifix, and a Dormition epitaphios)

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• St. John’s Skete, Australia and Indonesia (many panel icons and family icons on panels)

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• Icons for resale in Spain - mainly small icons

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• Holy Ascension Church, N.Y. (icons for iconostasis)

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• St. Basil the Great Church, NY. (many murals including one of Christ feeding the 5,000)

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• Holy Apostles Church, OK (panel icons for the walls)

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• Convent of St. Elizabeth, California (all the icons, both mural and panel —an ongoing

project)

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•Mural icon ordered by the parish of Sts. Raphael, Nicholas, and Irene in Toronto, Canada

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The artwork listed above is only part of all that we have done for churches, church stores, convents, and monasteries all over the world. In addition to those already mentioned, I have painted more than 500 icons for private individuals throughout the U.S and in other countries.

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I have also been commissioned to draw and paint portraits, landscapes, and still lifes for books, as commemorative pieces, and for private use. But I also paint for my own enjoyment, though these paintings are usually more relaxed in style and inspired by imagination

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2024 December Group Exhibition at Liberty Arts Gallery

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2024 Best in Show at the Siskiyou Fair and Peoples Choice Award

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2023 December Group Exhibition at Liberty Arts Gallery

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2023 By invitation: Convent Art Exhibition at Liberty Arts Gallery

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2019 First place for figure, landscape at the Siskiyou Fair

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2022 exhibition at the Marble Rim Gallery in July at their

request. Landscapes (both reality-based and imaginary), some still lifes, and icons.

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2018 Best in Show at the Siskiyou Fair

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In 2018 we were invited to exhibit our art at the Marble Rim Gallery, Fort Jones, California. Our exhibition included painted icons, landscapes, still lifes, and portraits of people and animals as well as other handiwork of the convent, such as embroidery and sewing (which I do not do).

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2017 Best in Show at the Siskiyou Fair

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2016 Best in Show at the Siskiyou Fair and Peoples Choice Award

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In 2012 our convent was asked to participate in an exhibition of icons in Greece which was sponsored by the St. Philaret the Merciful Orthodox Guild.

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Since 2017 I have worked at the St. Photios Orthodox Seminary as an instructor in iconography. I teach an elective class as well as two certificate programs in iconography.

https://spots.edu/

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EDUCATION

Farsta Gymnasium: 1984-1987

University of Stockholm, BA in Film and Communication: 1987 -1990 (plus a special project in

1992)

St. Luke’s Icon School diploma 1988

Diploma in Portraiture and Landscape 1988

Over 36 years of professional experience in the field

M.F.A. Candidate at Savannah College of Art and Design

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SKILLS

I have experience painting icons on panels, canvas and directly on prepared walls, using

acrylics, egg tempera, and wax (although wax is something I have only just started to explore).

I have created mosaic icons with tesserae and acrylic stones that I made myself.

I make raised frames and do relief work as well as gilding (using various techniques) and embossing. I also paint portraits, figures, landscapes, and still lifes in acrylic, water color, oil and pastel and draw in charcoal, pencil , ink and colored pencil as well.

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Finally, I am the Convent Choir Director, music being another art which I enjoy. Our choir has even produced some CDs.