Patina Gallery proudly Presents.

November 29 – December 31, 2024

Reminisce honors the art of ecclesiastical architecture and Cardinale’s undeniable love of religious forms.

The artist focuses on handmade sculptural objects depicting churches, synagogues, and towers he’s seen around the world. Inspirations set closer to home pay tribute to New Mexico missions, churches, and synagogues, such as the Loretto Chapel, El Santuario de Chimayó, Temple Montefiore, Our Lady of Light, among others.

“It started in the 1980s. It was El Santuario de Chimayó. I’ve always loved that church. I had an incredible spiritual experience there. Whether you’re Catholic or not, you can feel that”
Roberto Cardinale

The artist has shown a substantial collection of works at Patina over the years, varying in size from 15 inches to 7 feet high. Working out of his studio garage, Cardinale has said that it can take him up to 40 hours to complete one sculpture.

An early life as a Benedictine monk, Roberto Cardinale was inspired by the design of sacred spaces, which would manifest later in his sculptures. He left college to enter a monastery, where he began his studies in ecclesiastical architecture and pursued a life of religious devotion. Cardinale has been a ceramicist, sculptor, metalsmith, professor, and president of both the Art Institute of San Antonio and the New Mexico Museum of Art.

The artist captures the emotion imbued in the architecture itself, including its layered, sweeping rooflines, the painted mixtures of color, and molded texture. He also sculpts the likeness of exterior embellishments, working with miniature doors and windows to exquisitely honor scale and proportion.

Cardinale says he is continuously captivated by the emotional content of his subject, compelled by the language & message of their structures.

“I like to say that my work is prayerful, and prayer comes about as I work. It’s a spiritual endeavor. I love the process and love the pieces when they’re successful.”
Roberto Cardinale

Throughout our 25-year story of extraordinary jewels, groundbreaking ingenuity surfaces in the evolving friendship and collaboration from years gone by and in those to come.

For more information on the work, please email: allison@patina-gallery.com

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MAIN IMAGE & LOWER IMAGES: Sculptures by Roberto Cardinale.