Primarily working in oil, watercolor, and charcoal, my work is defined by the experience of simplicity, freedom and radiance. The artistic process originates in a prayerful receptivity of my surroundings and a consistent attraction to light. I paint in a representational mode while maintaining an open disposition capable of responding to unanticipated joys found in the conversation between myself and the medium. In this regard, I am influenced by Rembrandt and Sherrie McGraw, who herself, with David Leffel, coined the term "abstract realism"-- a painter's ideology that embraces 'sculpting with paint' and employing passages of loose brushwork with finer articulation to present recognizable images. My sometimes loose, impasto brushwork is inspired by Erin Hanson's "open impressionism"--creating a vibrant effect that she observes is stained-glass like. Inspired by her limited and vibrant color pallet, I believe utilizing this color and focusing on contrast and value to create the painting helps to reveal what is truly present.

Biography

Sitting at a wooden table, made by her grandfather’s hand, Anja Renkes began creating art at the age of 5. She discovered painting in high school and before heading to the University of Notre Dame as a member of the Women’s Rowing Team, was blessed to meet Master Artist Bruce Aiken. The world’s preeminent painter of the Grand Canyon, his kind attention to her art and soul nurtured her desire to contemplate Divine Beauty with her hands. Upon arriving at Our Lady's University, she found a home in the exposed brick and paint-spattered rooms of Riley Hall, the department of Art, Art History, and Design; studying painting under Professor Maria Tomasula and Father Martin Lam Nguyen. Majoring in Theology, she received minors in Studio Art and Irish Studies. As part of her Honors Thesis in Theology and Capstone for Irish Studies, she travelled to Ireland to research and paint Irish holy wells. Found nestled in both intimate and vast landscapes around the country, these are sites of pilgrimage and Catholic popular piety. The culmination of this undertaking is the Numinous Beauty Collection, a growing number of paintings exploring human longing for God and the inviolable, beautiful dignity of human life. In 2020, Anja worked for renowned Western artist Kathryn Mapes Turner at Turner Fine Art in Jackson, Wyoming. Turner mentored Anja in plein air painting in the mountain west. In Fall 2020, Anja studied under the direction of Sacred Artist Dony MacManus in Washington, DC. In 2021, she entered the ECHO Graduate Service Program in the Notre Dame McGrath Institute for Church Life, as a Holy Cross Fellow. Through the fellowship, she has been able to approach her work for the Church as an artist in formation, taking this time to better understand the existing structures and needs of the Catholic Church in the United States. As part of this program, Anja met and has continued to study under Greek Iconographer George Kordis, who describes iconography as "writing with light." 

Patroness

Fiat Fine Art is entrusted to the care and leadership of Our Lady of Mercy. Anja's patron saint, Sister Faustina Kowalska, was a member of the religious congregation, The Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy, in Poland. Saint Faustina is known as the Apostle of Divine Mercy; Anja was introduced to God's mercy through friendship with Saint Faustina after receiving a biography of her life as an adolescent. In 1937, The Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy specially chose Our Lady of Mercy to be the Superior General of their congregation. Anja owes her whole life -- every peaceful breath she is blessed to receive today -- to Jesus and His Merciful Love. Anja offers all fruits of this ministry to Jesus through Mary, Our Lady and Mother of Mercy. 

Story

Playing as a child on the rocky shores and tidelands of Juneau, Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest, I have always felt most at home outdoors. In the last two years of University and the following year, the Lord invited me to learn the reality and practicality of His sustaining Love. Through a deepening of awareness, suffering, and joy in the creative process, He revealed my wounds so that they could be gently washed and healed in the light of grace. Painting and creating art became increasingly integral in my work and understanding of what brings me joy. Initially, I painted what I have loved since childhood. Landscapes. 

My early formation and encouragement came from world renowned landscape painter, Bruce Aiken. While at Notre Dame, I was mentored by Professor Maria Tomasula and Father Martin Lam Nguyen as I began crafting what has become the Numinous Beauty Collection. After graduating from college, I was blessed to work for highly acclaimed Western artist Kathryn Mapes Turner in Jackson, Wyoming. Kathryn showed me the ropes of plein air painting and inspired me to receive God's magnificent gifts in each day through my work. During this time, I became very sick with an auto immune disease. After multiple hospitalizations in Wyoming, I moved to Virginia to be closer to specialists who could help me heal and learn to care for my body. As my mother and I drove from Wyoming to Virginia, everything I owned in the back of our pickup truck, my friend sent me a talk by Sacred Artist, Dony MacManus. Dony’s words illustrated a complete devotion of his artistic work to Christ.

After we checked into our hotel that night in Lincoln, Nebraska, I emailed Dony without expectation of a response from someone who undoubtedly had greatly important things other than email to tend to. Nevertheless, I asked for his advice for my continued artistic formation. I woke the next morning, on the Feast of Saint Faustina, my patron saint, to his gracious, kind response. Dony indicated that he would help me learn to serve Christ with my work. Little did I know, Dony, an internationally renowned Sacred Artist with studios in Dublin and Florence, was coincidentally located in Virginia; exactly where I was headed.

Meeting Dony has made it possible for me to embrace creating art as part of my vocation that the Lord reveals in real-time. Choosing to draw and paint trains me in my utter dependence on Jesus Christ so that I can surrender to God with joy. Seeking perfection by my own strength is not an option: now, I am saying yes, each day, to let Love carry me with both of my feet off the ground. My mission is to offer myself and my work, as your sister in Christ, for your encouragement on this often weary and ever wondrous journey of life on Earth. 

May you discover the ocean of God's love and mercy.