Biography

“Christ is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.” - St. Paul,  Epistle to the Colossians

Brian Matthew Whirledge lives in Goshen, Indiana, with his wife, Rebekah, and their son George. He paints icons with the blessing of Bishop Anthony of Toledo and the Midwest, Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America. Brian is an ordained reader, and serves as cantor and choir director at St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church in Goshen, Indiana. Pursuing the visual arts his entire life, he has painted hundreds of traditional Orthodox Christian icons for private and church commissions since 2007. To ensure these icons will last generations, Brian uses only the finest materials and traditional methods: egg tempera with mineral pigments and gold on gessoed wood panels.

It was in Jerusalem, during a family trip to the Holy Land, that he first experienced Orthodox churches and their iconography. The beauty of the icons contributed a great deal in his desire to join the Church. After converting to the Orthodox Christian faith in college, Brian began to learn to paint icons. As a visual artist and Orthodox Christian, Brian found painting icons in the traditional Byzantine style has been an organic way to express his Christian faith visually. The art of icon-painting originated in antiquity, was perfected through the centuries, and has been passed from master to student until today. Brian continues this living, growing tradition.

Icons are a proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not in words, but in lines, shapes, and colors. Silently, an icon bears tangible witness to the incarnation of God and declares that creation is essentially good, sanctified by the Creator’s incarnate presence in His world. Creation itself is transfigured into the likeness of the Creator and his Saints, bringing together the three kingdoms: vegetable (wood panel), animal (egg), and mineral (pigments). Radiant and never tarnishing, 23-karat gold leaf brings heaven into the icon. The dancing, reflective light interacts with the viewer unlike any other material.
Icons overflow with heavenly vision, becoming a palpable presence. They are not only windows to heaven, but also doors, inviting viewers to enter. Icons depict transfigured reality. They do not depict the world outside, but the heavenly world within. The light in icons is not Renaissance chiaroscuro, but rather the uncreated light of Christ, shining forth from within. Features are abstracted, clothing is geometrized, and the landscapes are enlivened to reveal a spiritual vision of reality. The postures and composition are balanced and hieratic, yet graceful curves and subtle asymmetry suggest motion. The clothing falls on the figure in vibrant, geometric highlights.

Brian paints within the tradition of the church and follows traditional depictions, colors, and compositions, but he does not simply copy old icons line-for-line. Each icon breathes the vibrant life and creativity of the Holy Spirit, so every icon should be fresh and new, rather than a static copy. Working solidly within the tradition, he takes the best which historical icons have to offer, and synthesizes the best fit for the patron and context in which the icon will be placed. Harmony of color, proportion, and style leads to a beauty that encourages encountering Christ and His saints in prayer. If the Church building is the body, then iconography is its soul. Holy icons become a holy presence in the Church by visually presenting the salvific events from the life of Christ, as well as making present the “great cloud of witnesses.”

Curriculum Vitae

PROFILE

Brian Matthew Whirledge paints traditional Byzantine icons and wall paintings for churches and private homes. He uses the finest materials available: 23k gold leaf, traditional egg tempera and mineral pigments on gessoed birch panels.  He is blessed by Bishop Anthony of Toledo as an officially sanctioned iconographer for the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

2020-present    Study with master icon painter Aidan Hart.

2020-2023 Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellow: Study of important medieval icons, frescoes, and mosaics in situ by sketching on location in Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, Mount Athos, Italy, and Constantinople.

2014          Independent Study of iconography in Greece

2013          Master of Education, Indiana Wesleyan University

2012          Lilly Endowment Teacher Creativity Fellow: studied Byzantine Iconography and Byzantine Chant in Athens, Greece; Apprenticeship with Tom Athanasios Clark, master icon painter

2007-08    Studied iconography with Nun Olympia at Holy Dormition Monastery, Rives Jct., Mich.

2007   Bachelor of Science in Art Education, Indiana Wesleyan University

MAJOR COMMISSIONS & WALLPAINTINGS

Brian Matthew Whirledge has painted over 300 private and church commissions since 2013

2024 Communion of the Apostles and Murals of the Nativity, Resurrection, and Crucifixion for St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church, Urbana, Illinois.

2023 Sanctuary murals (Theotokos “Platytera ton Ouranon” and Communion of the Apostles), and Dormition of the Theotokos mural, Saint Elizabeth Orthodox Church, Poulsbo, Washington.

Christ Pantocrator and Communion of the Apostles murals at St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church, Urbana, Illinois.

2022 Theotokos “Platytera ton Ouranon” apse mural, St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church, Urbana, Illinois.

2021 Iconostasis for Saint Mary’s Orthodox Church (ACROD), Painted Post, New York

2017           Communion of the Apostles for Christ the Savior Orthodox Church, Rockford, Illinois

                   Iconostasis for St. John of Damascus Melkite Catholic Church, South Bend, Indiana

2016           Virgin Enthroned with Angels for Christ the Savior Orthodox Church, Rockford, Illinois

2015           Sanctuary decoration, St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church, Goshen, Ind.

                   Sanctuary decoration, Holy Spirit Orthodox Church, Wantage, New Jersey

                   Christ Pantokrator for St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Kokomo, Ind.

2014            Angels for St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church, Goshen, Ind.

2013          Theotokos Platytera, Angels, Christ Anapeson, stars, and borders for St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church, Goshen, Ind.

2011            Christ Pantokrator for St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church, Goshen, Ind.

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2013-Present       Brian Whirledge teaches several icon-painting workshops annually to students of all ages and abilities, hosted by churches of various denominations.

2013-2022       Instructor of Visual Arts, grades 9-12, painting and drawing specialist, Wawasee High School, Syracuse, Ind.

2007-2013          Instructor of Visual Arts, grades K-6, Fairfield Community Schools, Goshen, Ind.