Education
The Milton Avery Graduate School for the Arts Bard College; MFA; Annandale-on-Hudson, NY
Sarah Lawrence College; BA Fine Art; Bronxville, NY
Wadham College, Oxford University; Oxford, England (Byzantine Art History)
Studio Art Center International; Florence, Italy
Solo Exhibitions
RE:create – Christina Saj’s Transformative Paintings, Ukrainian Museum, NYC | 2019
Cruciform, Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta GA | 2014
Let the Angels Sing! 5th Avenue Presbyterian, New York, NY | 2012
Chorus of Angels, Christ Church Episcopal, Glen Ridge NJ | 2011
Angels, Shepherds and Kings Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta GA | 2011
On a Wing and A Prayer, Center for Lifelong Learning, Columbia Theological Seminary, Decatur, GA | 2011
Images of Faith, Grantham Church, Grantham, PA | 2010
Form Seeking Expression, Marion Artistic Creations, Marian Library, University of Dayton, Dayton OH | 2010
The Six Days of Creation, New Brunswick Theological Seminary Chapel, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ | 2008
Visions and Imaginings, artpsace 129, Montclair, NJ | 2006
Lisova Pisnia, UECC Gallery, Philadelphia PA | 2004
The Tree of Life, American Embassy, Doha, Qatar | 2004
Words and Images, works on paper The Rosalind & Alfred Lippman Gallery, Short Hills, NJ | 2003
Indomitable Spirit: Paintings of Faith, Hope and Remembrance The Interchurch Center, NY, NY | 2001
The Guiding Spirit, The Bible Technologies Conference, Chantilly, VA | 2001
The Corporate Landscape, Brodsky Gallery, Chauncey Conference Center, Princeton, NJ | 2001
Painted Prayers, St. James Chapel, Union Theological Seminary, Columbia University, NY, NY | 2000
Drawing on Inspiration, Midland Gallery; Montclair, NJ | 1999
Music as Art/Art as Music, Central Presbyterian Church, Montclair, NJ | 1999
Celebration of Faith, Central Presbyterian Church; Montclair, NJ | 1997
Remembering Myth, Midland Gallery; Montclair, NJ | 1997
Allegories, The Lobby Gallery, New York, NY | 1995
Saints, Kings and Prophets, The Lobby Gallery, New York, NY | 1995
Contemporary Icons, Norbert Considine Gallery, Princeton, NJ | 1994
New Painting, UCAF Gallery, Toronto, Canada | 1993
Recent Works, The Ukrainian Institute of America, New York, NY | 1992
Defining the Spirit Within, (MFA show) Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, NY | 1991
Group Exhibitions
2020
Finding Identity, Museum of Ethnography and Art Crafts, Lviv Ukraine, curator: Halyna Novozhenets, Lviv National Academy of Arts
2018
Arabesque: Contemporary Conversations, Albin Polasek Museum, Winter Park, FL
Stillness, curator: Elizabeth Mead, NYArtistsCircle.com
2016
Sacred Spaces / Holy Places, St Lukes – Nails in the Wall Gallery, Metuchen, NJ
2015
The Ukrainian Diaspora: Women Artists 1908-2015, Ukrainian Museum NYC, curated by Adrienne Kochmann
2014
AMEN: A Prayer for the World, CARAVAN Festival of the Arts, National Cathedral, Washington, DC and St John the Divine, NYC
2013
Sacred Voices, Canton Museum of Art, Canon Ohio
Windows on Heaven, Contemporary Icons, Nails in the Wall, The Gallery at St. Lukes, Metuchen NJ
2012
Holy Lives, Mahoney Gallery, College of Saint Elizabeth, Morristown, NJ curated by Virginia Butera PhD
Cherubs : From Imps to Angels, Cahoon Museum of American Art, Cotuit, MA
2011
Artful Living, Ashenfelter, Slous McDounough & Trevenen LLP, Montclair, NJ
2010
MICAS 2010, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Genesis & Evolution, Studio Montclair, Academy Square, Montclair, NJ
Fellowship and Communion, EVCA online
2009
Fine Art / Folk Art: A Dialogue, The Ukrainian Museum, New York, NY
2007
A Collection Revealed: The Ukrainian Museum at 30 Paintings and Sculpture from the Permanent Collection, The Ukrainian Museum, New York, NY
Flights of Fancy, Artspace 129, Montclair, NJ 2007
Choose Your Muse featuring 11 Women Artists The Field School, Washington, DC 2007
Art Strings, NJ Symphony, NJPAC Newark,
Art Strings, NJ Symphony,NJ Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton NJ
What’s New! Studio Montclair, Montclair, NJ
2006
Koliada: Winter Rituals, Ukrainian Institute of America, New York, NY
Art Connections 3, George Segal Gallery, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
What’s New, Studio Montclair Summer Salon, Montclair Public Library, Montclair, NJ
Perspectives on Ukrainian Culture and Art, Kreeger Gallery, Potomac MD
2005
Truth, Gallery 214, Montclair, NJ
Landscape 4 Artists Views, Artspace 129, Montclair, NJ
125th Anniversary Exhibit, UCCA (Ukrainian Congress Committee of America) Museum of Cultural Heritage, Kiev Ukraine –
traveling to Charkiv, Donetsk, Dnipro-Petrovsk and Lviv.
2004
Works on Paper, Perkins Center for the Arts, Moorestown, NJ
A Full Plate, Makeready’s Gallery 214, Montclair, NJ
2003
Women Artist of Montclair: Black and White, Nandi Art Gallery: Montclair, NJ
Art: The Ultimate Asset, PNC Bank, Montclair, NJ
The Art of Collecting Fine Art The Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ
Art In Bloom, The Montclair Art Museum, Montclair, NJ
Connections, Kustlerbund, Graz, Austria
2002
Remembrance, Renewal and Reflection – The Unity Quilt Arts Council of the Morris Area
The Art of Collecting Fine Art, The Morris Museum, Morristown, NJ
“Eggstavaganza” The Los Angeles County Zoo, Los Angeles, CA
2001
SQUARED, Dupre Gallery, Montclair, NJ
Pysanka – The Easter Egg Roll, The White House, Washington, DC
Double Take, West Orange Arts Council Invitational, West Orange, NJ
The Bigger, The Better, Nabisco Art Gallery, East Hanover, NJ
SMI Fourth Annual National Juried Exhibition, Gallery 214, Montclair, NJ
2000
Cow Parade, West Orange, New Jersey
Surviving Symbols, (with Gloria Rodriguez) Westminster Gallery, Bloomfield College, Bloomfield, NJ
The Word as Art: Contemporary Renderings, Museum of Biblical Art, New York, NY
1999
Cross Purposes: Traditional Symbol – Contemporary Visions, Korn Gallery, Drew University, Madison, NJ
traveling to American Academy of Religion Conference Exhibits, Boston MA
National 5ive, ALJIRA – Center for Contemporary Art, Newark, NJ
Art at the Institute 1990-1996, Ukrainian Institute of America, New York, NY | catalogue
Studio Montclair: Annual Juried Exhibition Midland Gallery, Montclair, NJ
1998
Montclair State University: National Juried Small Works Show, Montclair State University Gallery; Montclair, NJ
Studio Montclair: First Annual Juried Exhibition Midland Gallery; Montclair, NJ
Our Mother Theresa, ArtBuilders Gallery; Jersey City, NJ
Reflections and Projections, Church Street, First Night Montclair, NJ
NJCW Art Show, Van Vleck Mansion, Montclair, NJ
Matter of Substance, Midland Gallery, Montclair, NJ
1997
Generations, A.I.R.; New York, NY
Artistic License, Nabisco Art Gallery; East Hanover, NJ
The Rest of the Colony, Midland Gallery; Montclair, NJ
1996
25 Years of Contemporary Art, at the Institute The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago IL | catalogue
Signifying Love, The Lobby Gallery, New York, NY
1995
Myth, Form & Spirit, (3 east coast artists) The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago IL, | catalogue
1992
NJ Arts Ben Shahn Galleries, William Paterson College, Wayne, NJ
1991
100 New York Artists, Whetherholt Galleries, Washington, DC
Published Articles
Ghosts of Byzantium, Literature & Medicine, Johns Hopkins University Press; Fall, 1997
Ilona Sochynsky – A Journey into Abstraction, The Creative Woman; Winter, 1993
Invited Presentations/Guest Lecturer
St. Lukes Episcopal Church, Metuchen NJ – Rountable Discussion: on icons “…and find in them, not bonds, but wings” April 2013
Christ Church Episcopal – Glen Ridge/Bloomfield NJ, “Art in Sacred Spaces”, Feb 2012
Central Presbyterian Church – Atlanta, GA “Insights and Inspirations”, Nov 2011
Museum of Biblical Art NYC – New York, NY, “Theology in Color: Tradition, Iconography and the Art of Icon Writing” June 2010
New Brunswick Theological Seminary, St Johns Campus, NY “Six Days of Creation” April 2010
New Brunswick Theological Seminary New Brunswick, NJ “Painted Prayers” May 2008
Studio Montclair: NJ“Salons: The Joy of Conversation” Jun. 2004
Temple Bnai Jeshurun, Short Hills NJ “Words and Images” Feb. 2003
Union Theological Seminary, NYC “Painted Prayers” Feb. 2000
Caldwell College, NJ Visiting Artist Lecture Feb. 1999
Drew University, NJ “Through the eyes of icons” Mar. 1999
UAPBA NY/NJ Chapter, NYC “A Work in Progress” Sept. 1998
The Midland Gallery, NJ “On Myth & Painting” Sept. 1997
Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC “On Allegories” Apr. 1995
Ukrainian Museum, NYC “Faces one can pray to – the icons of P. Cholodny” Nov. 1994
Selected Bibliography
Kochman, Adrianne, The Ukrainian Diaspora: Women Artists 1908–2015, The Ukrainian Museum, New York, NY 2015 (catalogue)
cover art: Sundays And Seasons, Augsburg Fortress 2017, 2018 & 2019
Disney-Britton, Ernest, Alpha Omega Arts, Inspire Me! Artist, March 6 2013
Interview: Mind Body Spirit Artist Series – Christina Saj, Friday, June 28, 2013 –
image reproduction, Holy Family, The Logic of the Incarnation – Intersections: Thoughts on Religion, Culture, and Politics,A Blog by Debra Dean Murphy Dec 20, 2011
Segedin, Andrew, Artist Meshing the Old with the New, Verona- Cedar Grove Times, Dec 30 2011
interview – Works with Soul: Christina Saj, Modern Icons, Ruminate Magazine Editors Blog May 4 2011
cover art: nativity, Nasha Doroha, Ukrainian Catholic Woman’s League of Canada, 2010
image reproduction, adam and eve, Körper unter Körpern: Grundlegung zu einer Theologie des Leibes, Salzkorn 2, 2010
Baczynsky, Marta, Exhibit focuses on ‘dialogue’ between Ukrainian fine and folk art, The Ukrainian Weekly, June 14, 2009
Qarooni, Nawal, Shining The Light, Star Ledger, Thursday, May 1, 2008 p. 30
Nicholls, Rachel, Walking on Water, Reading MT 14:22-33 in the light of its Wirkungsgeschichte, Brill Publishing, 2007
image reproduction, Blessed Be the Name of the Lord Why ‘Creator, Redeemer, Sanctifier’ is somewhere between heresy and idolatry. Christianity Today editorial, May 2008, Vol. 52, No. 5
cover art: “Flood”, New England Review, Middlebury College, 2008
image reproduction, Yancey, Philip Christianity Today, Ongoing Incarnation Would Christmas have come even if we had not sinned? 1/10/2008
Image Reproduction (Savior) The Progressive Christian, Nov/Dec 2007 p 48
Wunderink, Susan, Christianity Today, slideshow, The Transfiguration: Artists depict Jesus’ meeting with Moses and Elijah. 8/02/2007
Leshko, Yaroslav, A Collection Revealed: The Ukrainian Museum at 30 Paintings and Sculpture from the Permanent Collection, The Ukrainian Museum, New York, NY (catalogue)
Image Reproduction (Melchior of the Magi) The Progressive Christian, Nov/Dec 2007 p 47
McGlone, Peggy, On the Town: Montclair – Running on creative energy, The Star Ledger, July 7, 2006
cover art: Jerusalem, New England Review, Middlebury College, Summer 2006
image reproduction: Annunciation, Catholic Catechism, Loyola Press, 2006
Nash, Margo, Picasso Legal, New York Times, Sunday March 27, 2005
Gilligan, Kathleen, Myth and the Modern World: Montclair Artist brings Iconic Art into the 21st Century Suburban Essex October, 2004
“An exhibition of monotype prints features work of Viridian artists”, Montclair Times, May 5, 2004
Nicholls, Rachel “Walking on Water: reflecting on Matthew 14:22-33 in the light of two paintings” Cambridge University Senior New Testament Seminar, Cambridge, England 2003 & Society of Biblical Literature’s International Meeting, Cambridge, England 2003
Horsley, Richard, Image Reproduction (Nativity) Who is Our Savior?, The Other Side, Nov/Dec 2003 p23
cover art: (Tree of Life), Montclair this Month/This Month, LIfe and Leisure, March 2003
“Images of Jerusalem” The Montclair Times, February 27, 2003
Shevchenko, Olya, Connections: Montclair – Graz, Studio Montclair, Montclair, NJ 2003 (exhibition catalog)
“New exhibition opening in temple’s gallery” The Item of Millburn & Short Hills, January 23, 2003
Bischoff, Dan. “Spiritual Response” The Star Ledger, December 5, 2001
“Christina Saj Paintings Reflect the Spiritual Values of Our Civilization”, Montclair Times, Dec 20, 2001
cover art: (Nativity), The Other Side, December 2001
“Artwork by Christina Saj on view at Nabisco Gallery” The Montclair Times, March 22, 2001
“A look at the Cultural Scene” Ukrainian Weekly, Jan 7 2001
“A new look at reigious icons”, On the Green, Bloomfield college Alumni Magazine, Winter 2000 p 14
Burke, Marcus, B and Heller, Ena, The Word as Art: Contemporary Renderings, The American Bible Society, 2000 (exhibition catalog)
Turner, Patricia, “Contemporary Icons: scripture as interpreted by today’s artists” The Star Ledger, October 8, 2000
“Making Art Out of the Word”, Bible Review, October 2000
Image Reproduction (Last Supper) Maine Antiques Digest, September 2000
Humannitzki, Dorothy, “Relgious themes continue to inspire contemporary artists” Catholic New York, August 24, 2000
“Exhibition gives religious art a modern day makeover” Caribbean Life, July 25, 2000
Andre, Mila, “Spread the Word: Gallery is a blessing” New York Daily News, Friday, June 28, 2000
“Montclair Artist Christina Saj Draws on Byzantine Tradition”, Arts & Entertainment, Montclair Times, Thursday, June 27th, 2000
Smindak, Helen, “Ukrainian art works brighten area galleries” The Ukrainian Weekly, March 5, 2000
Martinez, Arturo, “Faith predominates joint exhibit” The Star Ledger, Jan 30, 2000
(interview) Uilana Teliouk, “University of the Airwaves” Voice of America, October, 1999
Krischer, Hayley. “Artists Give Hahne’s Building a Soul — or at Least a New Face” The Montclair Times, December 24, 1998
Martin, Antoinette. “Downtown Dazzle on 10th First Night” The Montclair Times, December 4, 1997
Juri, Carmen. “Can we wrap that for you?”The Star Ledger, December 18, 1997
Shevchencko, Olya. “Exploring Myth through the paintings of Christina Saj” The Ukrainian Weekly, December 18, 1997
Karasik, Sherry. “Galleries offer Voices to Artist’s in Montclair” The New Jersey Herald, September 12, 1997
Shevchenko, Olya. “Artscene: Allegories” The Ukrainian Weekly, Sept 4, 1995
Horodysky, Andrew, Myth Form Spirit The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, , May 1995 exhibition catalog
Peterson, Lisa. “Beyond Ambition, More Abstract Thinking Applied to Old World Icons” The Star Ledger, March 31, 1994
Collections
Saj’s work is found in numerous private collections, in the US and Abroad. Selected list of public, corporate and museum collections:
American Bible Society HQ, NYC
Blanc & Otis, TX
Central Presbyterian Church, Atlanta GA
Cigi Gallery Assoc. St. Louis, MI
Museum of Biblical Art, Dallas TX
Museum of Cultural Heritage, – Kiev, Ukraine
The Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art – Chicago, IL
The Ukrainian Museum, NYC
Ukrainian Canadian Art Foundation – Toronto, CA
Publishing
Saj’s work has been widely published, especially in liturgical contexts a selective list of publishers includes:
Augsburg Fortress
Christianity Today
First United Methodist Church, Amityville NY
Forward Movement
Logos Productions
Loyola Press
Johns Hopkins University Press
Middlebury University
St John on the Mountain, Bernardsville, NJ
St Luke’s Episcopal Church, Minneapolis MN
St Stephens Church, Ridgefield CT
The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts
The Other Side
The Progressive Christian
This Month, LIfe and Leisure
Ukrainian Institute of America, NYC
Ukrainian National Association
Ukrainian Catholic Woman’s League of Canada
Zooid Pictures Limited, UK
Awards & Honors
Alpha and Omega Arts Artist of the Month December 2015
A Prayer for the World @ National Cathedral in Washington DC and Cathedral of St John the Divine, NYC 2014
Alpha Omega Arts: Inspire Me! Artist, 2013
Artist In Residence, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, New Brunswick, NJ 2008
Art Strings, NJ Symphony, 2006
Arts In Embassies Program, US Dept of State 2003
The Egg Came First (selected to travel to the White House) 2001
Cow Parade 2000