Written by: United Theological Seminary July 2, 2021

Making the Universal Personal: An Interview with Artist Elliott Sharpe

On a sunny afternoon in April, I sat down with local Twin Cities artist Elliott Sharpe to talk about his artwork. To my delight, he drew in his sketchbook throughout our conversation. You can follow Elliott on Instagram.

Let’s start at the beginning: how did you come to art making?

I started out through songwriting, I was a songwriter for a number of years. I wrote very short 2-3 minute anti-folk songs about varying topics, heavily drawing inspiration from my disjointed Evangelical Christian past. I knew my songs were not like the songs I enjoyed listening to, but they were still songs, and people wanted to hear them.

I met someone who encouraged me to write songs, and she helped me tour around the midwest. We would play for about five people in living rooms, every couple of states. It was really fun, being out on the road.

During that time, I was making my own CDs to sell on the road. I found myself enjoying that process more than I enjoyed the process of writing songs. That is what first sparked my interest in art-making.

My philosophy for songwriting was very open-minded about what a song could be: I was like, wait if I think that this can be a song then why can’t this be art? So that kind of opened my eyes to decoding my art in a different way and allowing myself to be experimental because for a long time I wasn’t. I was like “I have to make art that looks like this.” I was very rigid in my idea of art. But it was through my deconstructing of songwriting that I constructed art. Songwriting was my foot in the door.

That description helps me articulate something that I like about the color palettes and compositions of your work. And it also makes me curious about who your inspirations are, whether in music or in art. I’m thinking of Wassily Kandinsky and other 20^th-century artists who would create explicitly musical artwork, so I think you could describe your work as “lyrical.”

Yeah, that’s a direction I’m intentionally headed now. For a long time, I was just making stuff because I found out that I had that power. It takes a long time—I find that lots of people make art but they’re not “artists,” which is interesting to me because I always challenge that. Like, are you? I think you are! We like to keep art as like a sacred thing that only certain people have access to or certain powers, you know, but it’s more accessible than people know. That’s another thing that I try to do with my art […] is inspire others to create as well ’cause it’s not that hard. Although, you know it’s easy to say that!

A lot of people won’t think to start [making art] unless they are invited and they’re waiting to be invited. And it’s like, no one’s going to invite you, I hate to say it! Just show up! I think that was what was holding me up for so many years too. I was waiting to be invited. It’s tough, but you just have to start doing it.

If I could go back to the music making thing: when you were making the CDs, what kind of medium were you working in?

I was mostly just doing sharpies ’cause I was on the road. I had this kit of CDs and my laptop that I was burning the CDs on. It was very underground. That was the scene that I came from –although I was playing ukulele and everyone else was doing punk rock. So that was fun. […] I haven’t picked up a ukulele in years—[maybe] about a year ago. It’s funny how things can be your purpose in life and then they can transform. I wouldn’t say that I’m not songwriting anymore, it’s just I’m not making music.

So, sharpies?

Just sharpies and printer paper. […] Then I would make a little art; I would have some markers and maybe would color it in. And people were really happy with them. I don’t know if they were buying my CDs ’cause they wanted me not starve… you know, you see a bunch of 18-year-olds on the road and are like should I be paying you so you don’t die or anything?! So, I think there was a little bit of both: you know, like I really really don’t want you to die and also your art is kind of cool.

I was thinking about Daniel Johnston as you were talking, because his album covers are such an art form.

Yeah, they’re iconic—almost removed from him, like the “hi how are you” T-shirt. […] He’s a big inspiration too because of how he was able to figure out a way to make his art and music exist side by side really well. You can’t actually separate the art from the music. I like that about his body of work. […] Whenever I see that [kind of multimedia] in the world I’m really excited by it—like Kimya Dawson and Jeffrey Lewis, who also do that. I guess they all live in the same genre of anti-folk and carry the tradition of folk music with them. […]

You mentioned that you started making art more intentionally in the last couple of years. Could you describe what that development or process was like and what your practice now looks like?

To go along with the music piece, I see my art almost like folk songs. I like the thing about folk music where they’re stating big ideas that live on the universal consciousness but telling them from their own perspective, which I really like. It’s not personal, but it is personal, you know? I love the way that folk music is able to do that. It’s able to transcend your own life into the rest of society. I’ve really thought about that – individualizing universal experiences. That’s what I want to do: individualize a universal experience as much as possible. That was one of the first things that I got really excited about when I started making art was that people were relating to things that I thought were only exclusive to my brain. Wait you think this too? of course, we’re all getting energy from the same place so of course we relate! Seeing people responding to my art […] made me realize that is bigger than what is in front of me. I’m talking about really, really big ideas and I got a little bit more confident in that and I started thinking back to songwriting and I was like, “oh! songs, art, I can do that here… poetry!” and then I put them all here [gesturing to his sketchbook].

So that brings us to what your images actually look like, which is that you incorporate text into them a lot. They’re so strong in color and composition and as we already said, they have this lyrical quality about that—and I meant that on a visual level—like the image you’re doing right now. Could you say more about the role of text? I’m thinking of that great image you have about the dentist which I love…!

“I have a lot of teeth and I don’t go to the dentist!” There’s a stream of consciousness that comes through in my art – […] it’s one way of accessing the universal knowledge by writing what’s on your mind, because if it’s on your mind it’s probably on someone else’s mind because it’s all coming from the same place. That’s definitely a big element of it. I think that stream of consciousness is […] what inspired me to be bolder about the words that I put down. I think they started from a place where I was like “I really want to write something on down on this piece of paper but I was like should I? wouldn’t that ruin it? so then that’s when I started using acrylic so I could like skate over it because acrylic paint is more opaque so it won’t bleed through the image. […] So the process for that is that I would do something like this [gesturing to the sketchbook] like weeks ago and then I would visit it again weeks later and think about what that image made me feel like and I’ll write the thing on it. So the one about the dentist I made months after the piece was done. I was like, I should go to the dentist right now, so I’m going to write this on this piece of paper. This is fine. This is profound. This feels good.

Yeah, that’s universal and relatable!

Yeah, everyone’s avoiding the dentist!

A lot of your images you’re making in your sketchbook, so it has that kind of personal feel. I’m curious about how you think that relates to the scale of your work, like the physical size and that kind of intimacy and what size the sketchbook is dictates the size of the work. and it’s a thing you can carry around and do anywhere, like right now. How are you thinking about scale in your work if at all?

Scale is something I’ve considered a lot. It’s how many people can see it at a time, is something you think about when you think of scale. like this, maybe like five people can look at this comfortably. This is not for sharing really, which is why Instagram kind of helps with that. because I’m able to take something that’s this big and it’s still only this big but ten people are looking at it instead of the five that are physically constrained to viewing this at a time. So, I think about Instagram a lot honestly when I make sketchbooks. I feel very comfortable with the size, with posting it online, so it’s really conducive with that. It’s really funny when I try to put my work in galleries, because […] most of my work is like 5”x8”. I did a gallery show of all of them once, and it was so funny because I was like these make great Instagram posts but they look really funny right now! […] I’ve been challenged by a lot of people to make really big things but then I’m like that feels like a little bit more pressure. Because in a personal sketchbook it’s like this big, I’m not wasting that many materials, and it’s very cost effective, too.

What do you think the role of spirituality, religion, or ritual, plays in your work—or any other words in that orbit of meaning in your current or past practice?

Spirituality definitely does influence a lot. […] I grew up non-religious, but my mom grew up Catholic. My dad grew up Catholic too, but just like Catholic in the sense of guilt but not religion. So they both were weighed down by a couple of bricks my entire life. My mom wanted to start going to a less oppressive church […], she wanted to go to an evangelical church, […] which is really, really funny looking back and now talking about this out loud. Like really? Wow. I’ve never said that out loud. She thought it was more open because they weren’t doing rituals every day. […] I don’t think I paid enough attention because it didn’t really– I don’t’ see any of the stuff that people talk about evangelicals now really happening. Like I didn’t see that they were particularly hateful towards queer people. […] So I went there for a long time. […But] We never really felt like we were at home there, which was interesting, because the way that their community functioned didn’t really allow for people that had other ideas. And I always had creative ideas to add onto these bible discussions and that wasn’t really welcomed there. New interpretations of the Bible were a no-no and I had so many different ideas and so […] I left that church feeling a little kicked. I feel like there’s a lot of material in the Bible and you can really think about it in so many different ways and that wasn’t really accepted. So I left and I was like, well, maybe I don’t really need to be a Christian anymore. I can just be and do whatever I want.

As an adult, I started going back to church at a Unitarian church because I lived down the street from one. […] I didn’t realize that theology lived in so many places until I became Unitarian. Now I’m not practicing Unitarianism, but I’m also living by their principles every day, so I think I’m more like a spiritual Unitarian Universalist, more so than a practicing one. But I guess I am practicing in a way…?

Yeah, like, what does it mean to practice?

Right.

So it sounds like you’re informed by some of these things.

Yeah and that appears in my work. That’s why there’s some weird things where I’m talking about some shady things in Christianity in my art, like in the repent piece, things like that where images and words come back up, like regurgitated over time and my brain processes them and I recover from the trauma that the church gave me.

The meditative thing that art does, where you can zone out and just enjoy the process. It maybe sounds cliché but it’s real that art is healing.

Oh yeah, it is!

The making of it and the sharing of it. Which is another thing that I appreciate about your work.

So spirituality is here and also is not here. Something else that’s interesting is the way that people approach me on Instagram – they’ll say “wow, I really needed this today” and things like that which kind of reminds me of things you might feel after you hear a sermon or something. People are engaging with it like it’s a religious thing and they talk to me like I’m a bigger than life person, but I’m like I’m just a guy! People talk to me all the time, you don’t need to treat me like I’m untouchable. Which is interesting: the way that social media does that to people, they think people are successful because they’ve hit different metrics or whatever. I don’t know about that. We’re all just approachable people. […] I’m still trying to think of how to answer your question about my current practice. Recently I’ve been doing more commercial things with my art to survive.

Like the tote bag on your website?

Yeah, and partnering with brands. I can’t talk about brand specifics [right now]– but a brand will feature me in the future. [A month after this interview Anthropologie issued three new items made from cloth featuring Elliott’s art!] I also want to go in the direction of making more album art too. As far as how often I make art, it’s whenever I have markers, so everyday pretty much! I’m always making art, whether or not I want to show anyone what I’ve made. For a while I was using Instagram as my only reason to make art, [ …] and that didn’t feel sincere so then after a while I reverted back to where I was before and it’s almost the opposite now where I don’t want to post anything anymore. This is all for me!

It’s nice that you enjoy it! It’s like what we were talking about at the beginning, the personal and the universal. if it’s something that you take pleasure in then it will probably will resonate with somebody else.

Right, if it brings you happiness then it probably brings somebody else happiness too.

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July 16, 2026

Announcements News Releases President

Rev. Dr. Molly T. Marshall to Retire in 2027 Following Six Exemplary Years as President

Her Vision and Leadership Have Transformed United Following six historic and transformative years as President of United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities, Rev. Dr. Molly T. Marshall will retire on June 30, 2027, upon completion of the seminary’s 65th academic year. President Marshall secured United’s financial standing, advanced institutional objectives toward long-term sustainability, and catalyzed historic growth in institutional fundraising and student enrollment. Rev. Dr. Marshall assumed her role as Interim President in March 2021 following thorough vetting by a search committee and the Board of Trustees’ unanimous vote. Having served in theological education for more than 40 years, her reputation preceded her. She made headlines as the first woman appointed to the School of Theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, the flagship school of the Southern Baptist Convention. Ordained as a Southern Baptist, she later received the privilege of call by the American Baptist Church. In 1997, she joined the faculty of Central Baptist Theological Seminary as professor of Theology and Spiritual Formation, thereafter stabilizing and revitalizing the school as President from 2004 to 2020, becoming the first woman ever to lead a Baptist seminary or divinity school. President Marshall’s respect and renown culminated in her executive report on effective seminary leadership, written for The Association of Theological Schools (ATS) before she arrived at United. Her experiences as a congregational minister, feminist theologian, prodigious academician, and her achievements as an administrator in theological education augured well for the seminary’s future in her care. Less than a year later, her position was made permanent, formally making her United’s tenth president, and, desiring to honor United's legacy, she pursued and received clergy standing with the MN United Church of Christ. United trustees outlined a set of priorities at the beginning of President Marshall’s tenure, on which she began immediate work. She invested much of her first several months in office in forming connections with alums, donors, and faculty. She concentrated her relational acumen on Advancement, and donors responded enthusiastically. In September 2021, United announced the Johnson-Fry Chair in World Religions and Intercultural Studies, endowed by Rev. Dr. Andrea Johnson (’17, ’23) and David Fry. Cultivating “respect for the lived religion of others,” as President Marshall often asserts, is a pillar of her scholarship and the seminary’s academic ethos. The Sophia Chair in Religious and Theological Studies, funded by a generous gift from Dr. Mary Farrell Bednarowski—Professor Emerita of Religious Studies (1976–2004)—and her husband and former trustee, Keith Bednarowski, followed in 2024. Finally, in 2025, a cadre of friends, alums, and former faculty established the Wilson Yates Chair in Theology and the Arts. These chairs, paired with substantial growth in endowed scholarships, feature prominently in President Marshall’s legacy and will endure as a witness to her faithful stewardship of alum and donor relations. Rev. Dr. Cindi Beth Johnson, Vice President for Advancement, reflects, “President Marshall’s enthusiasm, attention, and engagement with our donors have been important components of her leadership. She has honored our alums and delighted in our students. Molly has valued United’s history even as she has led us into new ways of being. She has built a culture that reflects her dedication, vision, and generosity. She has been a bright light in the broader community, embodying her passion for and dedication to United. Molly arrived with both expertise and heart, and she has shared them generously. She leaves a lasting imprint, and we are better for that. On a personal note, it has been a great gift to be her colleague.” Historic enrollment has been a fixture of President Marshall’s tenure. Between fall 2020 and fall 2025, degree-seeking student enrollment grew 57 percent, with the seminary welcoming its largest incoming class of degree-seeking students ever in fall 2025. In a climate where many theological schools have experienced stable or declining enrollment, United has surged. The Association of Theological Schools (ATS), one of the seminary’s two accrediting bodies, named United in its 2023 Holiday Colloquy Online issue as one of only 18 ATS-accredited seminaries to have demonstrated “steady year-over-year growth during the past five years.” President Marshall has positioned United as a leader in progressive theological education and a model for historically Mainline Christian schools. Commenting on what makes the seminary unique, President Marshall astutely noted United’s “desirable curriculum that emphasizes social transformation, theology and the arts, interreligious engagement, and public theology” and the intentional welcome of “students with myriad religious, spiritual, and theological leanings.” She sharpened and raised the seminary’s prophetic voice, believing that progressive theological education exists to serve the common good. From considerable growth in the Interreligious Chaplaincy program to the establishment of the Sims Scholars Initiative, she has expanded the student body’s depth and breadth. Under President Marshall’s fastidious leadership, United completed a Five-Year Strategic Plan in 2026. David S. Anderson, former Chair of the Board of Trustees (2020–2026), witnessed firsthand President Marshall’s effective management of United’s revitalization and her manifold accomplishments in office. On his close friend and colleague, David writes, “In her writings, President Marshall, Molly to me, once observed, ‘. . . following the Spirit will require of all of us faith—all the guidance we usually get is enough to take the next uncertain step.’ United, in late 2020, was indeed in a state of uncertainty, and President Marshall’s emergence as its next president must be seen as a revelation of the Spirit. She has led United to a platform of stability from which it will move forward with confidence, heeding the Spirit toward an uncertain, as human endeavors are, but bright and sustainable future.” Dr. Kyle Roberts, Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs, shared the news of President Marshall’s retirement with students this morning. With profound gratitude for her enrichment of the seminary’s faculty and scholarship, he remarked, “President Marshall has been just the leader this seminary needed to reclaim its vision, its vibrancy, and its voice in theological education. She has led a process of internal healing and of increasing external influence. She has been a champion of rigorous but applied theological education for spiritual leadership, supporting and encouraging the faculty in their teaching and the staff in their work. United,” he affirmed, “will always be indebted to her years of service and to her passion and care in moving the seminary to its next stage. United is, once again, a leading voice in progressive seminary education in large part because of President Marshall.” Rev. Dr. Dianne Oliver, Chair of the Board of Trustees, celebrates President Marshall’s transformative tenure and looks toward a bright future ahead. She affirms, “President Marshall’s impact on United is really extraordinary, and she will leave a profound legacy at the institution. Clearly, she has been successful in the ways often highlighted for an outstanding President—record enrollment, expanded academic programs, and financial stability, building a strong foundation for the next steps on United’s journey. Add to these leadership successes Molly’s theological acumen and prophetic voice in challenging times, and it is easy to see the scope of her leadership. Just as importantly, though, Molly has helped create a deep sense of community among the faculty, staff, students, trustees, and the broader community who support the work of United. Her leadership and accomplishments ensure United will keep living into the fullness of its mission and vision as the context for theological education continues to evolve.” Reflecting on her service to the seminary, President Marshall writes, “Serving as United’s President has been a joyful pursuit over these past several years as I have lived into the storied history of this good seminary. I have been invited into a theologically expansive landscape where courageous learning and creative ministries have renewed my own vocation in theological education.” She continues, “Faculty, staff, students, board members, donors, and friends have welcomed me to help craft this chapter of our shared mission. I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to serve as United’s tenth president. (Don’t say goodbye to me yet; there’s still work to be done!)” A Presidential Search Committee, comprised of trustees and representatives from the student body, alums, faculty, and staff, has been engaged in faithful preparation ahead of the public search for President Marshall’s successor. The seminary will share details about this process in the days ahead. Friends and colleagues from throughout President Marshall’s career were invited to submit reflections in her honor. These have been published on our announcement page. United eagerly anticipates celebrating President Marshall and her myriad contributions to the life of the seminary community during special events in spring 2027. Details will be made available in the months ahead. Strengthened and invigorated by President Marshall’s faithful leadership over these six years, United enters its 65th year of progressive theological education, steadfast in its mission: preparing innovative and compassionate leaders for the equipping of churches, other faith communities, and society toward justice and peace. Honoring President Marshall In celebration of President Marshall's tenure, a webpage featuring images, reflections by friends and colleagues, and opportunities to honor her achievements is now available. Visit the link below to learn more. Learn More About United Founded by the United Church of Christ (UCC) as a welcoming, ecumenical school that embraces all denominations and faith traditions, United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities has been on the creative edge of progressive theological thought and leadership since it was established in 1962. Today, United continues to educate leaders who, through the eyes of faith, engage in the dismantling of systems of oppression, exploring multi-faith spirituality, and pushing the boundaries of knowledge. Media Contact Nathanial Green (he/him) Director of Marketing and Communications press@unitedseminary.edu • 651.255.6138

St. Mark’s UCC Gifts an Endowed Scholarship to United

United graduates have an impact on United in countless ways. President Molly T. Marshall notes that they are, in fact, our letters of recommendation. They embody the educational experience they had at United in the work they pursue, in how they live out their faith traditions, and in the impact they have in the world. We see this in myriad ways. There is the alum who is a recurring donor and the alum who creates a legacy gift to support future students. There is the alum who introduces President Marshall to a new donor. And there is the alum who sees another person’s interest in theological education and encourages them to pursue a degree at United. Recently, we have seen up close the impact of the work of Rev. Jennifer Jaimez (’98). Jennifer’s first call was to St. Mark’s UCC in Bloomington, Minnesota, which was founded in 1954. Jennifer served at St. Mark’s for 28 years and, like other pastors, she had a significant influence on members and the broader community. St. Mark’s also had an impact on United. During Jennifer’s ministry, eight students from United completed nine-month internships at St. Mark’s. As interns, these students were part of a learning community that helped them hone skills in teaching, preaching, counseling, and administration. The congregation, along with Jennifer, mentored and encouraged them. They have all gone on to do a multitude of things: serving in nonprofits, rural churches, city churches, and more. St. Mark’s investment in United students had a significant impact. As for many congregations, the pandemic was difficult for St. Mark’s. Three years ago, they made the painful decision to complete their ministry and intentionally repurpose their assets while it was still their choice. In addition to supporting the Minnesota Conference UCC and the Bloomington Housing and Redevelopment Authority, they made a significant gift to United. A relationship that began with mentoring interns grew into a newly endowed UCC scholarship. The St. Mark’s endowed scholarship will provide financial support for UCC students who wish to attend seminary. This gift creates an enduring legacy for St. Mark’s and will provide support for future students. As the gift was announced, their moderator, Cindy Russell, said, “This gift will defray the cost of seminary education. Support for future leaders of the church remains important as the church continues to evolve into new ways of being the church.” This spring, we have been blessed to establish several new endowed scholarships in addition to the one from St. Mark’s. Estate gifts from Joanne* (’82) and Thomas* Rohrict, and Elden* (Yankon, ’55) and Norma* Zuern have created a lasting legacy and investment in United. A recent gift from George (Mission House, ’55) and Joyce Schowalter will allow them to see, while they are living, the impact of scholarship support. Currently, 57 percent of scholarships are covered by generous gifts and endowed scholarships. The other 43 percent is paid out of United’s annual budget. Each scholarship gift, each new endowed scholarship, or gift to an already endowed scholarship, helps us expand offerings to our students. We don’t want financial limitations to become a barrier for students who feel called to attend United. Your scholarship gifts supported Jennifer while she was a student. Her experience at United, along with the skills she has learned along the way, helped her shepherd St. Mark’s for more than two decades and through the difficult decision to complete their ministry. Your gifts to United continue to make this happen. We give thanks for the lasting legacies created by these and many other faithful donors. __________________________ * Deceased

Alum Rev. Todd Lippert (’03): Living a Public Ministry

As Rev. Todd Lippert was growing up, his life was dominated by two constants: music and church. Both of his parents were music teachers. His dad was the high school choir director, and his mom was the elementary school music teacher. Though his family had been Baptist for generations, they ended up attending a United Church of Christ (UCC) church where his mom was hired to play the organ. It was also much closer to home than the nearest Baptist church. “I always took Christian faith very seriously,” Todd asserts. “The church was a sacred and holy place to me.” In seventh grade, Todd remembers talking to his father. “I was at the bottom of the stairs talking to my dad at the top of the stairs. And that was when I said for the first time, ‘I wonder if I might want to be a pastor someday.’” But, Todd adds, “the idea was really terrifying to me,” so he put it out of his mind. At the University of Iowa, he pursued a music degree. During a philosophy class toward the end of college, a professed atheist professor began asking some of the same questions about faith that Todd was confronting. “I was wrestling with whether I was a Christian or not.” Deciding on Seminary The turning point came one Sunday morning after graduation when Todd and his wife were at church. At the time, he was selling Yellow Pages ads and contemplating an MBA. “I hated it,” Todd confesses. “I was miserable.” Watching the preacher at First United Methodist Church in Iowa City, he thought, “Maybe I could do that, and maybe I need to pay attention to this call to ministry that keeps bubbling up.” United was the first UCC seminary that came up on the computer, and when Todd visited, “it felt like home for me as soon as I arrived.” Since his wife was doing graduate work at the University of Minnesota, they moved to the Twin Cities. “At United,” Todd recalls, “I had the space to figure out how Christianity was meaningful and how this faith fit together for me.” Professors who welcomed and encouraged his questions were key to his faith formation, and the “liberation theology that moved through the curriculum, with its focus on justice, was extremely appealing to me.” Todd was also inspired by his classmates. “I saw the student body deeply engaged in the political and social questions of the day.” At United from 2000 to 2003, Todd experienced the Bush v. Gore lawsuit, 9/11 terror attacks, Minnesota senator Paul Wellstone’s tragic death, and the Iraq war launch as he was earning his MDiv. Public Theology Justice-seeking activism, Todd asserts, “really cemented my understanding that the body of Christ is about bringing the realm of God into being wherever it is. And that was something that would have to make my life better and make my community better.” Since graduating, Todd has worked as a UCC pastor, a Minnesota state legislator (2018–2022), a community organizer with ISAIAH, and a community minister with Creekside Church. The clergy organizing work during Operation Metro Surge was especially impactful and reconnected him with United. Todd went through “nonviolent direct action training with Dr. Rita Nakashima Brock, one of the authors I read.” He also worked with Rev. Dr. Carolyn Pressler, his former Hebrew scripture professor. United, notes Todd, equipped him “to be able to understand what is going on in our world, and in our communities, and I had the tools to get better and better at that, reading the present through a biblical and theological lens.” He is extraordinarily proud of the way the church showed up in Minnesota and grateful for United. “I really want,” Todd concludes, “the love-your-neighbor values of the church to be a force in our public life, not an afterthought. I want it to be a force in our political life.”