SACRED ART PRIZE
2025
2025 Sacred Art Prize Winners
The Sacred Art Prize was instituted in 2020 to recognize excellence in Catholic sacred art.
The competition seeks to recognize, award and promote work that demonstrates a mastery of craftsmanship
as well as how to appropriately depict sacred subject matter with a profound theological understanding.
The following gallery reflects the jurors selections of works that best fit the Sacred Art Prize prospectus.
These works were selected from over 360 submissions from fifteen countries including:
Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy,
Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States.
Regarding the jurying process: The names of the artists are removed from all the submitted works,
so the jurors are judging the work blind and the selections are based on merit, according to the
prospectus, and not on any other consideration.
Many thanks to Jurors, Charles Pabst and Kathleen Carr, for their time and consideration.
Congratulations to the winners and finalists for this achievement and for participating in the Sacred Art Prize.
Prize Awards
Sr. Mary Paula Beierschmitt I.H.M. Memorial Grand Prize: $2500.
Second Prize: $750
Third Place: $250
Thanks to the Sacred Art Prize Web Sponsors Including:
Exquisite Arts
If you are interested in purchasing any of the finalist works,
please email contact@catholicartinstitute.org.
A selection of works listed in this gallery will be on display at the
from February 21-March 21, 2026.
An opening mass offered by Bishop John Dolan take place on February 21, 2026
followed by a reception at the Sacred Art Gallery.
Additional details about the reception will be published in Jan. 2026.
Sister Mary Paula Beierschmitt, I.H.M.
Memorial Grand Prize
Formerly Marianna Beierschmitt, Sr. Paula died on Sept. 28, 2013 in Mary Immaculate Convent, Philadelphia, in the 55th year of her religious life. She was 72 years old.
Born in Ashland, Pa., Sister Paula entered the Congregation of the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1958 from Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish and professed her vows in 1961.
She taught school in various grades in up-state Pennsylvania and Philadelphia. In 1984 Sister Paula pursued further studies at various sites including the Barnes Foundation and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. She was commissioned by the Pallottine Fathers to sculpt a bust of their founder, St. Vincent Pallotti, for the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
For her IHM Community, she sculpted “The Handmaid” and “The Missionary,” a likeness of Father Louis Florent Gillet, the order’s founder. Sister Paula was the founder of the American Academy of the Sacred Arts in Philadelphia, a Catholic arts organization with a nearly identical mission as the Catholic Art Institute.
Sister Mary Paula Beierschmitt, I. H. M.
Memorial Grand Prize
1st Place
The Apparition of St. Michael at Mont Gargano
by Matthew Conner
Egg Tempera on Panel | 30x15 in. | NFS
matthew-conner.com
Jurors Comments: This mesmerizing depiction of St. Michael at Monte Gargano imaginatively and beautifully depicts this unique apparition of the Prince of the Heavenly Hosts. From the complex landscape to the detailed vestments, the viewer is drawn into this miraculous scene, as well as to contemplation.
The painting beautifully demonstrates a mastery of egg tempera painting techniques, a creative use of composition, as well as striking the right balance between realism and idealism, particularly in the expressions and depiction of St. Michael. There is a clear reverence for the masterpieces of the great Flemish masters while maintaining a unique and refreshing artistic expression.
The jurors chose this painting for first prize based on its complexity of composition, evident mastery of artisanship, creativity, and profound theological comprehension for depicting sacred subject matter.
2nd Place
Christ Calming the Storm
Martin Earle and Sister Josephine Marie,
Egg tempera and on panel | 40 x 32 in. | NFS
martinearle.com
Jurors Comments: This imaginative panel of Christ Calming the Storm is a beautiful contemporary interpretation of the Byzantine and early Medieval style. The golden field, symbolic of the Divine Presence of Christ, is pierced by the mast of the small fishing boat and immediately reminds us that the event we are contemplating lies at the intersection of the awesome power of nature and the humble omnipotence of God Incarnate.
The painting succeeds in portraying the entire Gospel narrative most succinctly by cleverly repeating the figure of the Lord at both ends of the boat. The fish afloat in the malachite waves and the personification of the winds facing their Master add a charming element, while the palette unifies and harmonizes the composition.
The jurors chose this painting for second prize based on its imaginative use of space, mastery of technique, scriptural depth, and clear understanding of the noble simplicity needed for art to accompany prayer.
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3rd Place
Saint Michael
Edith Pons,
oil on canel | 66.93 x 27.55. | NFS
edithpons.art
Jurors Comments: This arresting depiction of the great St. Michael beautifully captures the power, majesty, and strength of this beloved Archangel. The clear balance of realism and idealism, as well as the mastery of oil painting, made this work a stand-out in this year's competition.
The color palette is evocative of the humility which gave St. Michael his exalted rank among God’s angelic soldiers. He stands as one ready for to fight and protect in obedience and service to God. His face, reminiscent of the classical Greco-Roman ideal, likewise shows a masculine being with the inner virtues and self-control of an angelic soldier.
Sacred Art Prize Exhibition 2025 Winners
Kathleen Carr
Kathleen Carr is the President and Founder of the Catholic Art Institute. She a classically trained painter, multimedia designer and graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art.
In academia, Ms. Carr served as Deputy Chair and Professor of Design and Illustration at the Corcoran College of Art.
Her painting has received recognition from the BP Portrait Award at the National Portrait Gallery UK, The Portrait Society of America, The Art Renewal Center Salon, The Salmagundi Club, The Arlington National Cemetery Museum, The Corcoran Museum, The Butler Institute of American Art, among others.
Ms. Carr has designed for the National Geographic Society, the Washington Post, HZDG Design Group serving a variety of clients including: American Express (Red), AT&T, Beefeater Gin, BP, Chase Sapphire, Chrysler, Exxon, Fetner Real Estate, Ford, General Mills, Glaxo Smith Kline, Honda, IBM, Kelloggs, KIA, The Marriott Corporation, Mastercard, McDonalds, Mercedes Benz, Merck, Microsoft, Mini Cooper, Porsche, Rolex, Siemens, Toyota, The Washington Capitals, VRBO and more.
Her design work has been featured in Communication Arts, Apple.com, Quicktime & Dynamic Graphics.
She studied classical painting with Scott Waddell, of Grand Central Atelier , Robert Liberace of the Art Student's League of VA, Dan Thompson of Studio Incamminati, and Natasha Mokina at the Corcoran College of Art.
2025 Sacred Art Prize Jurors
Charles Pabst
Vibrant, colorful paintings teeming with life; nearly everything Charles Pabst paints bears the stamp of his joyful positivity. A family-oriented man who thrives on the interaction with his large family and circle of friends, Pabst refuses to confine himself to one style, but all of his work has an underlying sense of optimism and hope. His range helps account for his broad-based appeal, but so does his exquisite use of light, his gift for mixing color and his taste for lovely, often poignant scenes.
His art shows have been sellouts throughout the country since the early 1980's. An award-winning favorite among art collectors, his works can be found in private, corporate, and university collections throughout the world. A native of Santa Clara, California, Charles Pabst graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Fine Arts.
He has received numerous awards over the years and has been featured in numerous publications including American Art Collector, Southwest Art, Art of the West, ArtBook, and his book, Reflections, the Life and Career of Charles H. Pabst.