Catholic artists who work in all kinds of media in the Chicago area can find community and fellowship with members of Chicago Catholic Artists.
Photographer and videographer Damian Chlanda started the organization more than two years ago with his friend, painter Sarah Crow, who is artist-in-residence at St. Gregory’s Hall, a Catholic cultural center that is a ministry of Mary, Mother of God Parish.
It is hosting its first exhibition, “The Upper Room Art Exhibition” at the Three-In-One Art Gallery, 755 N. Ashland Ave., open by appointment through the closing reception June 24.
The idea is to provide an opportunity for Catholic artists in all media – from painting and photography to textiles and ceramics to performance – to come together for inspiration and fellowship, Chlanda said.
“I’m blessed to be working just with the Catholic churches, organizations, nonprofits, doing Catholic weddings,” said Chlanda. “It’s rewarding work, and I’m very blessed to be working with people that have the same values. I really appreciate it. But I felt a little alone in Chicago as an artist.”
He approached Crow, and the two started the organization.
The group hosts monthly meetings where members share their art, schedules museum tours and in October 2025 hosted a Mass for artists celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Mark Bartosic at St. Gregory the Great Church.
“I think the community is the most important part we’re trying to do, for people to not feel alone in this world, especially as artists,” Chlanda said. “A lot of us have full-time jobs and are still trying to work on their craft. It can be very challenging, but this is a safe space for Catholic artists, where they can bring her work, they can share their work, they can have social time, and they also can get feedback on their work, and maybe advice on how to run their businesses or where they can try to sell their work.”
The group has more than 200 people on its email list, Chlanda said, and most monthly meetings draw 10 to 20 people.
The association is important for the church, Chlanda said, because artists not only create beauty with their work, they help others look for and understand beauty.
“We, as artists, we are sensitive to beauty, and I think that this is something that is very important in the Catholic Church,” he said, adding that sometimes in recent decades, beauty might have been sacrificed for economic or cultural reasons. “We can see it in the old churches and modern churches. I think there’s basically a difference there. We can bring beauty back, and we can give people a better sense of it, and maybe explain what beauty is, and create the art that is beautiful.
Some forms art — such as Crow’s paintings — contribute directly to the beauty of churches and other religious spaces. Others, such as Chlanda’s photography, can help the share the beauty that already exists, whether on social media or parish websites, he said.
For more information on Chicago Catholic Artists, or to make an appointment to visit the gallery, visit chicagocatholicartists.org.