About Us
Our Mission
Theopolis is equipping a rising generation of Catholic artists and creating a space of encounter between the Secular and Sacred
Our Story
Theopolis began as conversations between friends passionate about art, culture, community and the Catholic tradition. What started as study and reflection in Ontario, the U.S.A., U.K., Italy, and Greece evolved into a mission: to revive Catholic art in our communities.
Our inspiration comes from the story of the Apostle Philip and the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26–40): teaching that the Ethiopian was poised for baptism by reading the Word that he did not yet understand, this passage inspired our mission to empower Catholic artists to create an initial encounter between the sacred and the ‘unwitting world’ so that it might be likewise poised by a beauty that it sees and hears without understanding and ask, “how can I [understand] unless someone instructs me?” (Acts 8:31).
Through this vision, Theopolis sets out to share the wealth of the Catholic artistic tradition with the world: stirring hearts and lifting the gaze heaven-ward.
What is Catholic Art?
In our use of the term, Catholic art encompasses more than traditional religious imagery. It includes any creative expressions—painting, sculpture, music, literature, film, photography, and more—that are made within the spirit of the Faith.
We prize creative excellence and welcome a range of themes, styles, and subjects.
We value works that:
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Are original and imaginative
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Offer new perspective
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Contemplate the transcendentals
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Deal with substance and content
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Engage the complexity of sin and suffering
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Celebrate the dignity of mankind
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Much more!
Catholic art, in our reckoning, engages the world through imagination, beauty, and truth.
Meet the Team
President and Co-Founder
Eden O'Brien
Eden holds an MLitt in Theological Aesthetics from the University of St Andrews and a B.A. in Philosophy from Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College. Her work explores the intersection of art and truth, with research in 19th- & 20th-century Aestheticism, Religion & Literature, and Tolkien’s poetics. Eden has contributed to academic projects including co-editing a volume for the Edinburgh Journal of Inkling Studies and serves as associate editor for Transpositions. Passionate about the dialogue between faith and the arts, she has spoken at numerous events and currently works in Business Development across North America and Europe.
Co-Founder
Monica Sifert
Monica studied sacred art, fine art, and iconography in Florence, Italy; Crete, Greece; and Phoenix, Arizona. She also holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Literature from Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College. Inspired by the Italian Masters, the Pre-Raphaelites, the Arts & Crafts Movement, and even “bad art” she seeks to reimagine, Monica creates art that transforms inspiration into beauty. She is passionate about craftsmanship and loves making things from scratch. Alongside her artistic practice, she works as a Corporate Paralegal. Learn more about her iconography and wood burning artwork at www.iconicstudioart.com.