Sacred Streets is the culmination of all my life experiences, passions, and training and relationships. At seventeen years old I started asking if I really wanted to commit my life to being an artist and why. Making art was a skill, but I feared it would sacrifice my desire to also connect with and serve people. It did not take me long to realize that I could combine my passion for art and people in socially engaged art. The very first vision I had of this intersection was to connect with the unseen people of society through making their portrait.

I have committed to the slow process of drawing by hand because there is no immediate capture of a person’s image. Instead, both the subject and the artist sit with each other for extended periods in a slow-paced environment. It is uncomfortably and wonderfully personal. I am a socially engaged artist who strives to bridge personal differences and cross spiritual divides.

One could easily point out the problematic nature of a person of my social position bringing the arts to vulnerable communities. However, I see that the tools and experience I have been given can be of service. I’ve seen my approach bridge understanding, and restore dignity, and in the words of the first gentleman I drew, to “feel human again.” The voice I’ve been given can give voice to others. I approach the places and the people I engage with by listening first. I ensure to create long-term connection with organizations that can serve them for years to come.

In regard to education, I have received a Master of Arts (MA) in Global Leadership with an emphasis in Art & Theology from Fuller Seminary. I have also received a Bachelors in Fine Arts (BFA) from Biola University, minoring in Business Administration and graduating from the Torrey Honors Institute. — Jason Leith