Ongoing Art Exhibit - Icons in Transformation by Ludmila Pawlowska

About Ludmila Pawlowska and Icons in Transformation

Born in Kazakhstan and now based in Sweden, Ludmila Pawlowska has been shaped by profound experiences that continue to inspire her art. Icons in Transformation is a museum-quality exhibit, shown in cathedrals and museums around the world, now at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Palo Alto. Featuring more than 150 expressive mixed-media works, the exhibit reinterprets Christian icons in ways that invite reflection, hope, and transformation.

Icons in Transformation is more than an art show—it is a spiritual experience. Walking among the icons, visitors will encounter beauty that transcends words and discover new ways of experiencing God’s presence. It is especially meaningful to host this exhibit during the season of Lent to use it as contemplative pieces when the Church in a violent world wrestle with the message of God’s love and hope in the person and work of Jesus Christ. All Saints' is honored to share this exhibit with the community, opening our doors to seekers, artists, and all who wish to explore the transforming power of sacred art. 

This exhibit is dedicated to Ukraine, based on Ludmila's Ukrainian roots. Check out A Necessary Journey to see all the events associated with the exhibit.

​The Exhibit Location/Dates/Hours

The exhibit is now open will be showing through Easter Sunday April 5th. Located in 3 different buildings on the church grounds (555 Waverley Street, Palo Alto) there are 187 pieces of art to view. The hours are:  Fridays 4 PM - 8 PM; Saturday/Sunday 12 PM - 8 PM. Private tours can be arranged by emailing office@asaints.org.

The Inspiration

Mila’s exhibit includes a collection of traditional icons made at monastery workshops in the years since a measure of religious freedom returned to Russia. With these traditional icons shown alongside her work, you can see the influences for yourself.

Eyes — In classical icons, the eyes are exaggerated and made more luminous than they are in life. In Mila’s paintings, eyes, the windows to the soul, often dominate.

Blue — In traditional icons, blue, the color of the sky, symbolizes heaven. Gold — Mila uses gold leaf which produces a lustrous glow. In traditional icons, gold represents the radiance of heaven and makes all light warm.

Red — Mila’s reds, deep and rich, symbolize passion. Texture — Mila’s process starts with special, high-quality plywood from a Swedish

manufacturer. She adds layers of gesso as a ground and builds up texture with pastes, fabric, thick paints and small objects. Surface

Light — The artist lavishes love on her surfaces, often using special metallic paints that glitter in strong light and glow in softer light. Cut-outs — Sometimes Mila plunges a saw blade through her pieces and cuts out spirals, crosses and other shapes. They invite the viewer to look within the piece. “We all have something inside,” she says, “the spiritual feeling — we’re all on a spiritual journey.” Often when looking at art and looking within both the art and himself, the viewer can find himself miles down the road of that spiritual journey.

Stones — Many of the stones implanted in her work are special, fossil-rich limestone, common where Mila lives. “Stone is timeless and carries the memories of the ages.”