Jesuit church hosts sacrilegious ‘icon’ exhibit after Archdiocese of New York cancels
The Church of St. Francis Xavier in Manhattan is hosting an exhibit titled 'Twilight of the Idols' by Jesuit artist Nicholas Leeper after the Archdiocese of New York canceled its original display. The exhibit features provocative depictions of religious figures in a modern pop art style, including a controversial Madonna and Child. The church supports the exhibit as a means to provoke reflection on faith and culture, despite concerns from some members of the community.
- ▪The exhibit includes 14 pieces that blend pop art with Byzantine iconography.
- ▪Leeper's work has drawn criticism for its sacrilegious representations of religious figures.
- ▪The Archdiocese of New York canceled the exhibit just two weeks before its planned opening.
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| Publication time | Tue, 26 May 2026 21:37:53 +0000 |
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News Jesuit church hosts sacrilegious ‘icon’ exhibit after Archdiocese of New York cancels Nicholas Leeper, a Jesuit known for his blasphemous 'art,' provocatively depicts Our Lord, Our Lady, and other saints in the style of modern 'pop art.' tomeqs / Shutterstock.com AntoninoCambria 0 Antonino Cambria Comments 0 Tue May 26, 2026 - 5:37 pm EDT NEW YORK CITY (LifeSiteNews) — The Church of St. Francis Xavier in Manhattan is hosting a sacrilegious “iconography” exhibit created by Nicholas Leeper, a Jesuit known for his blasphemous “art,” that features provocative depictions of Our Lord, Our Lady, and other saints in the style of modern “pop art” after the Archdiocese of New York had canceled the exhibit from being displayed on archdiocesan property.
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