December 6, 2024

Wartime Beauty

Artists: Sofia Atlantova and Oleksandr Klymenko (Kyiv, Ukraine)

Curator: Sergei Chapnin (Orthodox Christian Studies Center, Fordham University)

The Refuge Gallery

November 12, 2024 – January 25, 2025

The Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University (OCSC) has unveiled a milestone exhibition, Wartime Beauty, marking a historic moment for contemporary Christian art from Ukraine. Curated by Sergei Chapnin, the exhibition presents recent works by Ukrainian iconographers Sofia Atlantova and Oleksandr Klymenko, highlighting unique blend of traditional iconography in a modern context.

This exhibition is a collaboration between The Refuge Gallery and C-Icon Art Gallery and signifies a shared commitment to exploring contemporary interpretations of Christian art and supporting the Ukrainian people in their quest for freedom and independence. At the heart of the exhibition is Mariupol Deisis (2022), a striking series of 11 icons from Atlantova and Klymenko’s Icons on Ammo Boxes project. Chapnin explains, “Their work departs from certain Byzantine iconographic conventions, not as a rejection, but as a bold reimagining of Eastern Orthodox tradition, reminding us of the enduring desire for beauty that resonates with prayer.” The artists encourage viewers to look beyond the rough, unrefined wood of the ammo boxes, signaling that the spiritual authenticity of their work emerges through each viewer’s perception.

Since its inception amid Ukraine’s struggle in 2014, Icons on Ammo Boxes has reshaped how sacred art addresses themes of suffering and resilience. In a time of conflict, holy icons—traditional symbols of holiness and the communion of saints in the Orthodox Christian tradition—reflect the fractures of war yet continue to declare the abiding presence of God, His Holy Mother, and the Saints alongside human anguish.

Running from November 12, 2023, to January 25, 2025, at The Refuge Gallery, this exhibition not only celebrates the collaboration between OCSC and The Refuge Gallery but also sets a foundation for future explorations of Christian art in a changing world.

Guided tours are available upon request.

Sergei Chapnin noted, “It was a true blessing to bring these icons from Ukraine, and we hope the exhibition will inspire Fordham’s faculty, students, and guests, as well as audiences in other U.S. cities and universities.”

Holly Curtis

Assistant Provost for Corporate Relations at Fordham University

Holly Curtis is an accomplished education leader, currently serving as the Assistant Provost for Corporate Relations at Fordham University. In this role, she fosters partnerships between academia and industry, driving innovative collaborations and advancing strategic goals. Prior to this, Holly was the Chief of Staff at Ascend Public Charter Schools, where she oversaw strategic planning for one of New York’s largest charter networks, and she also led MBA Admissions at NYU Stern School of Business.
With a strong background in strategic leadership, education management, program development, and recruitment, Holly’s career began in international development with Pencils of Promise in Laos. Her work there shaped her expertise in strategic planning and talent development.

Holly holds an MBA from NYU Stern and a BA in International Political Economy from Fordham University. She is deeply committed to advancing diversity and inclusion, and is a certified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). She is also an alumna of NYU’s Global Inclusive Leadership Management Institute.

Martine van der Does

Helen Hamlyn Humanitarian Fellow and Global Program Director

Work Location

Netherlands and Jordan

Martine van der Does is a Dutch humanitarian expert with over 20 years of international experience in humanitarian action, diplomacy, policy and education. With a background in architecture, she started her career working on humanitarian shelter at Delft University of Technology before moving into field operations with Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) as a Construction Logistician.

In 2010, Martine joined the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she has held various policy, coordination and diplomatic positions, including assignments in Afghanistan and Jordan. She has also worked for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Myanmar, focusing on protection and water and habitat programmes in remote areas. From Amman, Jordan, she served as Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Netherlands Government, covering humanitarian developments and crises across the Middle East. Martine continues her work with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a Strategic Policy Advisor on Humanitarian Affairs.

Alongside her work with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Martine has been involved with Fordham University’s Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs (IIHA) for over 15 years. Since 2024, she has been involved as the Helen Hamlyn Humanitarian Fellow at the IIHA, where she has also held the role of Global Program Director, contributing to the development and delivery of international humanitarian education and training programmes. She has also served as Course Director of the International Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance (IDHA) and lectures at Fordham University and Delft University of Technology.

Martine holds a Master of Science in Architecture from Delft University of Technology and a Master of Arts in International Humanitarian Action from Fordham University.

She co-hosts Corporate Humanity, a podcast produced by Fordham University’s Institute of International Humanitarian Affairs.

Academic Background

Master of Science in Architecture (MSc) and Master of Arts in International Humanitarian Action (MIHA) and IDHA 24

With the IIHA since: 2008

Current courses: IDHA and non-academic courses

In my free time I enjoy: Outside of work, Martine is a passionate cyclist and runner who enjoys endurance sports and ultraraces. She is also a qualified sports massage therapist.

“In a world you can be anything, be kind to yourself and the people you work for and with. ”