Former Sotheby's Director Becomes Priest, Launches World's First Christian Art Conference

Former Sotheby's Director Turned Catholic Priest Launches Inaugural Christian Art Conference at London's QEII Centre

Father Patrick van der Vorst, a Roman Catholic priest for the Diocese of Westminster and former Director of Sotheby's Europe, has announced the first ever Christian Art Conference to be held at the QEII Centre in London in 2026.

The inaugural one day gathering will explore the relationship between Beauty and Faith, bringing together artists, theologians, cultural leaders, and readers to reflect on the sacred dimension of art.

Van der Vorst, who was born in Bruges, Belgium, studied law at the Catholic University of Leuven before launching a 25 year career in the art world. He rose to become Director and Head of the Continental Furniture Department at Sotheby's Bond Street by age 31, specializing in 18th century French furniture.

After leaving Sotheby's at 39, he founded ValueMyStuff, an online platform for item valuations, and later St George Valuations. Despite his commercial success, van der Vorst recognized a deeper calling.

People need to sell things when they are going through a divorce, when a loved one passes away, or when they face financial difficulties.

Van der Vorst reflected on finding meaning in accompanying clients through hardship rather than purely commercial transactions. At 47, he entered seminary at the Pontifical Beda College in Rome for the Diocese of Westminster. He distributed much of his wealth to family and charitable organizations before pursuing ordination.

He was ordained on 24 June 2023 at Westminster Cathedral by Cardinal Vincent Nichols and now serves as parochial vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel and St. George in Enfield.

Inspired by the global community that formed around his Christian.Art platform, which now reaches over 130,000 daily readers, van der Vorst created this conference to bring that digital community together in person. The platform offers daily reflections pairing artworks with Gospel readings.

The conference will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and exhibition stalls. It will be preceded by a Mass for Artists celebrated by Archbishop Moth at Westminster Cathedral the evening before, and will conclude with Evensong at Westminster Abbey.

First Christian Art Conference Unites Global Community of Believers Through Beauty and Faith in London

The Christian Art team behind the conference is described as a global group of writers, translators, developers, and artists united by the mission of drawing people closer to the Christian faith through art and beauty.

Through breakout sessions, attendees will be able to choose from a programme of topics exploring how artistic expression can deepen spiritual understanding and foster unity among believers of all denominations.

The Crusader's Opinion

This is exactly what the Church needs right now. While the secular art world drowns itself in nihilism and ugliness, here is a man who walked away from the pinnacle of the art establishment, gave away his fortune, and became a priest so he could point people back to God through beauty. Father Patrick van der Vorst understands something the modern world has forgotten: beauty is not decoration, it is a pathway to the divine. The fact that 130,000 people read his daily reflections proves that Christians are starving for art that glorifies God rather than mocking Him. This conference could spark a renaissance in Christian culture. We need more of this boldness.

Take Action

• Visit christian.art/conference2026 to learn more about the Christian Art Conference 2026 and register for tickets.
• Sign up for the free daily Gospel and art reflection at christian.art to receive Father Patrick's daily devotional pairing art with Scripture.
• Share this story with your church community and encourage artists in your congregation to attend or participate in the exhibition stalls.
• Support Christian arts initiatives and persecuted Christian artists worldwide through www.TheShepherdsShield.org.
• Pray for the success of this conference and for a revival of beauty and faith in the arts across all Christian denominations.