The Call of Sacred Art: Interview with Iconographer Elizabeth Zelasko

"Whether I am creating a traditional icon, a Roman representation of the saints, or a portrait for a client, prayer is at the core of it all. I just want to show people the beauty of God."

We caught up with Elizabeth Zelasko after years of admiring (and purchasing) her beautiful work. She joined us to talk about sacred art and the true call not just of the artist, but also of art patrons.

TOH: How did you get started as a sacred artist? 

Zelasko: I have been an artist my whole life. My mom is a painter and so it was something that was always encouraged in my home. I was in special art classes in grade school, which was an incredible thing for a public school to offer at the time. God blessed me with true art teachers during my academic years. These women were artists themselves and they loved teaching.

Going to art school was the only aspiration I had in high school, and growing up in New Jersey made it easy to fix my eyes on New York City. I was accepted into the School of Visual Arts, and spent two years there. After two years, I was sorely disappointed in the modern methodology of art school. It felt more like an expensive