Ruth Stricklin

Ruth Stricklin, an Alaska native who moved to the Phoenix area to work as a muralist and interior designer, was asked in late 2007 to paint an icon-style mural as a backdrop to the altar where a Catholic school celebrated Mass. The mural, a triptych, would depict Christ enthroned in glory in ... moreRuth Stricklin, an Alaska native who moved to the Phoenix area to work as a muralist and interior designer, was asked in late 2007 to paint an icon-style mural as a backdrop to the altar where a Catholic school celebrated Mass. The mural, a triptych, would depict Christ enthroned in glory in heaven, flanked on the left and right by assemblies of the saints. In the process, Stricklin began to study the history of Catholic art and iconography. She was captivated by its “rich symbolism” and beauty. “Well, these images slowly began to work on me and draw me into the deeper truths of the faith,” she said.
Ruth experienced a profound conversion through her encounter with beauty in sacred art and music in the liturgy, which she came to understand were encounters with Christ himself. Through these experiences, she has come to see that beauty, when placed at the service of the liturgy in her architecture, art, music, and ritual, makes the hard work of conversion seem not so arduous, but attractive and enticing.
In 2010, she was received into the Catholic Church and was soon encouraged to continue her studies of sacred art at the Liturgical Institute at the University of St. Mary of the Lake near Chicago. “It was here that I became stunningly aware of my true vocation as an artist toward the pursuit of Beauty, the eternal Beauty in the Person of Jesus Christ. Everything changed for me; everything opened,” Stricklin said.
She also met her husband, Geoff Stricklin, who was finishing his last semester at the institute. They have partnered in art, founding New Jerusalem Studios in Phoenix, to announce the Gospel of Jesus Christ through beautiful sacred art and design.”
Ruth feels blessed by her faith and art journey: “Geoff and I recognize that God brought us together to be a support to one another, but also to build this ministry. He has, through the art, brought us even more connection to each other and to the greater Catholic community.”
Ruth and Geoff together bring their passion and years of training and experience in art and design, parish ministry, teaching, and formal education in liturgy to the mission of evangelizing through beauty.


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