Local artist's mural at Lake Forest Park Presbyterian is open to the public

Lisa Meltvedt Koontz finishes details on her
three panel mural at LFP Presbyterian Church
Photo courtesy LFP Presbyterian

Local artist Lisa Meltvedt Koontz finished an extensive three-panel mural of the life of Jesus on the walls at Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church just in time for Easter.

Koontz meticulously researched her wall-sized painting which contains architecture, plants and clothing of first century Palestine. 

It is her statement of faith as well as a gift to the LFP community and specifically to the children of Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church and the Pepitas Bi-lingual Preschool who have enjoyed watching the painting for the last two years.

The mural is open to the public and can be viewed during business hours and on Sundays at Lake Forest Park Presbyterian Church, 17440 Brookside Blvd. NE, Lake Forest Park, 206-364-2712. Ask the receptionist at the front desk to show you this mural that culminates a triptych of stunning murals depicting the entire life of Christ.

Lisa Koontz is known to many local students through her work as an Art Docent at Brookside Elementary as well as through Lake Forest Park Church’s Children’s Summer Art program.

The mural is true to the time period in all details
Photo courtesy LFP Presbyterian

Lisa has spent years studying the art of French society painter, James Tissot, and her murals are informed by his style. Tissot, who gave up painting fashionable ladies after a religious conversion experience, researched his paintings by traveling to Egypt, Syria and Palestine in the late 1880’s because European artists before his time had almost exclusively depicted the people of the Bible as looking like Europeans in their native costumes and villages. Tissot’s paintings were highly controversial. Lisa has taken pains to include meticulously researched images of Semitic peoples, middle eastern flora and fauna, architecture and garments compassionately rendered with great skill, in warm, glowing colors.

Lisa is associated with The Gage Academy of Art, The Pratt Institute, private workshops and The Brig Studio Artists.