Epiphany Art
Justin Claravall, SJ
Justin Claravall, SJ is a London-based Jesuit artist and postgraduate student at the King's Foundation School of Traditional Arts, specialising in iconography and calligraphy — making art for prayer, liturgy and devotion.
Mediums: Iconography (egg tempera) · Calligraphy (ink & gouache) · Watercolour · Drawing
Themes: Iconographic tradition · Prayer · The Incarnation · The sacraments
Location: London, UK
Available for all types of commissions
About Justin
Justin Claravall is a member of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), currently studying for an MA in Traditional Arts at the King's Foundation School of Traditional Arts in London, specialising in iconography and calligraphy. His artistic journey began in high school art classes before moving into digital art, photography and graphic design.
When he joined the Jesuits, he took up calligraphy — an art form requiring only minimal tools, well suited to religious life — and later studied oil painting before discovering iconography. His encounter with Father Damian Higgins at Holy Transfiguration Monastery in California proved decisive: the iconographic tradition spoke directly to his Jesuit calling, with its structure, its purity of intention, and its vocation to help Christians encounter God in liturgy and devotion.
He now works in egg tempera and wax tempera, alongside ink calligraphy and watercolour.
In their own words
"I want to make art that helps people to pray, because prayer connects us to God, the source of life and love. Though I primarily work in Byzantine iconography and western calligraphy, I hope that their symbols—words and images familiar to Christians—will move anyone’s heart to contemplation and prayer in his or her own way. Lessons at the School of Traditional Arts gave me confidence that religious art made rigorously and intentionally yields beautiful work appreciable by all.
"Using egg tempera for painting and pen and ink for calligraphy links me to the work of artists from previous generations. The required preparation time for these materials fosters not only awareness of the importance of using traditional methods and materials but also my awareness of the source and cost of these materials on the environment. While preparing to paint or write, I can pray for the people in the supply chain, and the people who may benefit from my art.
"I participate in a long tradition of artists making images and writing texts for the public worship of the Church. Both ancient and new churches employ an established language of symbols to aid people in connecting with the divine and each other. In homes throughout the world, people have established shrines and corners with icons and holy scriptures to maintain their relationship with God in private spaces. These public and private dimensions of divine worship inspire me to produce images and texts that serve the needs of the people of faith in both sectors, hoping that their burdens may be lightened and imaginations ignited."
Faith and the creative act
Jesus is everything for Justin Claravall, and that shapes every aspect of his practice. Joy — the joy of Christ in people and in creation — drives his iconography and his landscape work alike. His calligraphy is a form of gift-giving, made for others and offered in prayer. He understands making art as inseparable from the life of faith: a way of praising God, serving others, and — in his own words — experiencing his own salvation in the act of creation.
Selected works
