Nicholas Kerestan Leeper, SJ
Born in 1992 in New Jersey
Resides, studies, and works in New York City.
Education:
2021-2024, Masters of Arts in Philosophy, SLU, St. Louis, MO
2016-2018, Masters of Science in Church Management, Villanova University, Villanova, PA
2011-2015, Bachelors of Arts in History with a concentration in Urban Teacher Education Program (UTEP), Rutgers Unviersity-Newark, Newark, NJ
Selected Exhibitions
2025, Le Pardon, Biennale d’Art Contemporain Sacré (group exhibition), Menton, FRANCE 2025, Pop Art, Casa Blanca Centro Cultural, (group exhibition), Arequipa, PERU 2025, Let's Get Visual, Covet Art Gallery (group exhibition), Oceanside, CA 2025, Icons, Las Laguna Art Gallery (group exhibition), Laguna Beach, CA 2025, "Pop Art-esque," Art Scene West (group exhibition), San Diego, CA 2025, "Creators, Educators," BASIS Independent Manhattan (group exhibition), New York, NY 2025, "Sacred Play," Covet Art Gallery (group exhibition), Oceanside, CA 2025, "Gilded," d'Art Center (group exhibition), Norfolk, VA 2025, "Have a Good One!," Ben’s Grocery Deli (group exhibition), New York, NY 2025, "Say What?!," Covet Art Gallery (group exhibition), Oceanside, CA 2024, "Representing the Holy Name," Holy Name Church (group exhibition), Steamboat Springs, CO 2024, "Icon-ic," Covet Art Gallery,(group exhibition), Oceanside, CA 2024, "Let There Be Light," The Lexis Gallery at Trinity Cathedral (group exhibition), Sacramento, CA 2024, "What is Christ?," SLUMA (solo exhibition), St. Louis, MO 2023, "Student Exhibition," McNamee Gallery (group exhibition), SLU, St. Louis, MO
Selected Collections:
Publications:
2024, Christ Pantocrator in Novum Artis, Issue 006
2024, Master's Thesis in Philosophy, Saint Louis University
An Attempt at an Ignatian Aesthetic: Philosophical Reflections from "What is Christ?"
Xavier High School, New York, NY Thrive for Life, New York, NY Saint Louis University Campus Ministry, St. Louis, MO Saint Louis University Jesuit Residence, St. Louis, MO Features in various national private collections.
Awards:
2025, The Homiens Art Prize, Highly Commended, HOMIENS, USA
Selected Press:
Pray As You Go, "Nick: Pilgrim Stories" on Youtube (2025) at [https://tinyurl.com/44uyf3pm] consulted on 22 August 2025 Jesuit Media Lab, "A Jesuit Artist is Creating ‘Pop Icons’ Like You’ve Never Seen" on Jesuit Media Lab (2025) at [https://jesuitmedialab.org/a-jesuit-artist-is-creating-pop-icons-like-youve-never-seen/] consulted on 22 August 2025
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Contact details:
nleeper@jesuits.org
@nkleepersj
Professional Contributions:
2025: Jesuit Fellow at Jesuit Schools Network on Ignatian VASEs Project 2024-Present: Teacher of Art and Religion, Xavier High School, New York, NY 2022-2024: Teacher of Art, Presentation Arts Center, St. Louis, MO 2021-2022: Tutor, Loyola Academy, St. Louis, MO 2018-2019: Associate to the Pastor, St. Teresa of Avila Parish, Summit, NJ 2015-2018: Director of Faith Formation, Ss. Peter & Paul Parish, Hoboken, NJ