Imam Abdullah Antepli, President of Rothko Chapel

Imam Abdullah Antepli, the new President of the Rothko Chapel, is a new friend of Houston Zen Center. Please come and meet him.

Abdullah is a Turkish-born American imam and one of the few scholars working at the convergence of faith, ethics, and public policy, Antepli brings a deep commitment to pluralism and intellectual diversity – values core to the Chapel’s mission. Since its founding in 1971, the Chapel has stood as an international beacon at the intersection of spirituality, art, and human rights. Under Antepli’s leadership, it will continue to expand its global reach as a platform for interfaith engagement and social justice rooted in spiritual inquiry.

“Abdullah’s spirit, values, and successes resonate deeply with the Rothko Chapel’s mission,” said Troy Porter, Chair of the Board. “We are confident that he will successfully implement the ambitious strategic plan we’ve just adopted, and that his leadership will guide the Chapel into its next chapter as a convening space for spiritual exploration, artistic expression, and the pursuit of justice.” 

“It is with great excitement and a deep sense of purpose that I join the Rothko Chapel – a sanctuary where the sacred, the artistic, and the just converge. I am eager to walk alongside the Rothko Chapel family as we write the next chapter of its remarkable journey,” said Antepli. “At a time when the world is fracturing along religious, partisan, and ideological lines, the Rothko Chapel dares to offer a sacred space where art, silence, and justice meet, and I am humbled to help steward that space forward.”

Christopher Rothko, son of Mark Rothko and former Chair of the Board, said, “Abdullah Antepli’s work embodies the essence of the Rothko Chapel mission – to strive for justice through listening, understanding, and collaboration. We have hired a superb leader who will bring our work regularly to the national and international stage, even as we grow deeper and wider roots in the Houston community.”