The Cloister Gallery at Grace Cathedral is intended to provide a space for the celebration of the fine arts and to encourage awareness of the deep connections between creativity and spirituality. In keeping with the long-established appreciation of the fine arts in the Anglican spiritual tradition, the Gallery seeks to help people cultivate a fulsome awareness of the relationship between creative expression and human thriving.
The Gallery has been open since 1996, and has hosted shows consisting of a variety of media including paintings, drawings, photography, fabric arts, and mixed media. The Gallery schedule typically consists of shows dedicated to works by a single artist. Shows usually rotate on a monthly basis. Artists of all styles and backgrounds are invited and encouraged to consider displaying their work at the Gallery.
The Gallery is situated next to the spacious atrium in the Cloister Building between the Cathedral and Cathedral Hall. The Gallery itself is in an enclosed hall that runs east and west, with ample natural and artificial lighting. Track lighting fixtures focused on individual display space utilize Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology and may be adjusted using a dimmer switch. The large windows on the north wall of the Gallery provide a view of the Cathedral’s landscaped Close without allowing direct sunlight into the Gallery space itself. The Gallery is approximately 61’ long, 7’ wide, and 8’ high. The walls of the Gallery are composed of the unfinished limestone blocks used throughout the Cathedral. Artwork can be displayed in between the windows and doors on both north and south walls utilizing suspended rods with stabilizer bars. The Gallery can accommodate a maximum of 16 framed images (see Guidelines below for maximum widths) and a more limited number of three-dimensional works, depending on their size.
The Cloister Gallery is open to the public during business hours or from 8 a.m. – noon on Sunday. Please call ahead for open office hours. Visitors and touring groups are welcome, and there is no fee for admission. The Cathedral is located at 701 SW 8th Ave. in Topeka, Kansas.
Now Showing: Ukrainian Art
The February Exhibit will feature three Ukrainian artists – Maria Stepura, Daria Ratman and Kamila Pavlenko. These artists moved to the United States because of the war in Ukraine; all received early art training in their home country. Maria Stepura’s painting “Kansas Sunset” will be featured in the Top City Promise Annual Gala live auction on February 22. Early bidding may be done by using the QR code by the painting. Meet our artists:
Maria Stepura
I have drawn and painted for as long as I can remember and began attending art school from the age of 11. During high school, I was creating commissioned portraits in pencil and pastel and eventually started to incorporate oil as I got older. I eventually worked for a custom painting company while also taking personal commissions.
My family and I left Ukraine one week after the war started in February 2022. After a long journey of traveling from Poland, Bulgaria, and Mexico, we came to join my aunt here in Topeka, Kansas. We are fortunate to have the support of Yana Ross and Top City Promise. We couldn’t be here without them.
I find joy in painting portraits, capturing the beauty of landscapes, face painting. Currently I am taking commissions in mediums such as oil, pencil, and pastel. You will be able to find my painting “Kansas Sunset” in the Top City Promise Annual Gala live auction on February 22.
ratman664@gmail.com
instagram.com/marusichkart
https://www.facebook.com/Face.Paint.by.Maria
Daria Ratman
Hi! If you’re reading this, it means you liked my work (I hope!).
My name is Daria, and I’m 17 years old.
My journey with art began in early childhood when I first picked up a paintbrush—I instantly fell in love with it. I started by recreating pictures from the internet, and as you can see, it has led me to where I am today.
I’m from Ukraine, but I ended up here because of the war. Moving was incredibly painful for me—many of my loved ones stayed behind, and I still miss them and keep in touch. But I managed to get through it, thanks to myself and my art.
Kamila Pavlenko
Hello, everyone interested in my work!
My name is Kamila. I am 14 years old.
I was born in Kyiv, Ukraine. My family moved to Canada because of the war, and after a few months in Canada we moved to the USA. For a year and a half I attended Jardine Middle School, but switched to home schooling.
I have been painting since 5 years old. I attended an art-focused elementary school in Ukraine but did not finish it. I am mainly self-taught.
Thank you for reading to the end, I hope you like my works!
pavlenkokamila717@gmail.commy art.
I’m truly grateful to everyone who took the time to read this! dasaratman544@gmail.com
Exhibiting Guidelines
The following guidelines are intended to help those preparing to show their art at the Cloister Gallery organize their work and plan their exhibit.
The Gallery displays only original works; reproductions and prints are not accepted with the exception of glice prints of the artist’s original works. There is space for 16 pieces with the following maximum width dimensions: four 24”, six 36”, and six 42”. Artists are encouraged to select works around a particular theme.
Exhibits are normally installed prior to the first Sunday of the month and are normally taken down following the last Sunday of that same month. Artists are encouraged to be present when their work is being both installed and taken down.
The Gallery will provide all hardware necessary for hanging two-dimensional works; additional hardware is not to be used. Artists are requested to use braided or stainless steel wire for hanging. Stands and pedestals for three-dimensional works are not available and must be provided by the artist. No adhesives of any kind may be used to secure items to the walls throughout the Gallery.
Artists are to email digital images of the works in the exhibit, a personal digital image of the artist, biographical information, and a list of each work with information such as the title, the media, dimensions, date of composition, and price. The Gallery will prepare printed material with this information for distribution during the exhibit.
Promotional information (brochures, catalogs, business cards, etc.) and a guest book may also be left by artists in the Gallery for the duration of their exhibit.
Artists are invited to attend a Sunday 10:30 am worship service at the Cathedral during the course of their exhibit to meet the community and give Cathedral members a chance to welcome them and ask questions about their work. It is also possible to schedule an opening reception, but all arrangements must be made by the artist and coordinated with the Cathedral’s calendar.
Grace Cathedral uses security procedures during its hours of operation, as well as an alarm and security service overnight but cannot be responsible for works that are damaged, destroyed, or stolen. Artists are encouraged to insure their works prior to bringing them to the Gallery.
Patrons interested in purchasing works displayed in the Gallery will be provided with contact information for the artist, and all sales will be negotiated directly by the artist and the patron. At the end of their exhibit, artists are encouraged to make a contribution of approximately 15% of all sales made during the course of the exhibit to Grace Cathedral. Grace Cathedral uses these voluntary contributions to defray costs incurred during the exhibit (if any) and for the purpose of outreach ministry in the Topeka area.