Arthur Lopez – “Maria y Su Sagrada Familia“ (Maria and her Sacred Family) (2 Pieces)
$ 9,500.00
This piece is entitled, “Maria y Su Sagrada Familia“ (Maria and her Sacred Family). Arthur says of this piece:
“This is a lighthearted take on the image of the Holy Family. He has depicted Mary as a proud Latina chola wearing a t-shirt with an image of the actress Linda Carter who starred in the original Wonder Woman. Like the Virgin Mary, Wonder Woman has become a symbol of beauty, empowerment, equality, justice and strength for many women. Graffitied on the wall is the image of San José and the Infant Jesus sporting their own cholo style. The infant Jesus holding a can of his Mothers Aqua Net hair spray that miraculously holds her hair up high.”
The process for Arthur’s work is bound in tradition. After the piece is carved, it is covered in gesso (a glue made from rabbit hide), which is allowed to dry and then sanded. It is painted with both natural and watercolor pigments. Natural colored pigments, such as brown, are derived from black walnut hulls. These are the time involved and the historical foundations for his work.
Arthur’s work is found in numerous museums and public collections, including Albuquerque Museum of Art & History, Denver Art Museum, Freedom Museum (911 Memorial at Ground Zero), Harwood Museum of Art, Museum of International Folk Art, Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, and the State of New Mexico Permanent Art Collection. Most recently he received the New Mexico Governor’s Award for the Arts in 2022!
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This is a lighthearted take on the image of the Holy Family. He has depicted Mary as a proud Latina chola wearing a t-shirt with an image of the actress Linda Carter who starred in the original Wonder Woman. Like the Virgin Mary, Wonder Woman has become a symbol of beauty, empowerment, equality, justice and strength for many women. Graffitied on the wall is the image of San José and the Infant Jesus sporting their own cholo style. The infant Jesus holding a can of his Mothers Aqua Net hair spray that miraculously holds her hair up high.
The process for Arthur’s work is bound in tradition. After the piece is carved, is covered in gesso (a glue made from rabbit hide) which is allowed to dry and then sanded. It is painted with both natural and watercolor pigments. Natural colored pigments, such as brown, are derived from black walnut hulls. These are the time involved and historic foundations for his work.
We are pleased to present this amazing body of work from one of the leading Santos artists in the country. Arthur’s artistic expression continues to break through the history of Traditional Spanish Colonial art in New Mexico. Each piece demonstrates his expressive ideas by utilizing and honoring traditional techniques to arrive at his uniquely contemporary one-of-a-kind creations. Consistently Arthur has pushed the boundaries of the New Mexico Santero tradition that has placed him a the forefront of his craft.
Arthur’s work is found in numerous museum and public collections, including Albuquerque Museum of Art & History, Denver Art Museum, Freedom Museum (911 Memorial at Ground Zero), Harwood Museum of Art, Museum of International Folk Art, Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, and the State of New Mexico Permanent Art Collection. Most recently he received the New Mexico Governor’s Award for the Arts in 2022!
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Lopez, Arthur (b. 1971)
Arthur Lopez
Arthur Lopez (b.1971) said, "I firmly believe that you can still use traditional methods to create contemporary work."
Though most of Arthur's work represents Saints, you do not have to be of any particular religion to appreciate them as art. Equally crucial to López is his need to transcend the bounds of the traditional santero and use his art to express the full range of his culture and the world around him. López has exhibited in numerous shows throughout the Southwest and is in many prominent museum collections nationwide. His work has been exhibited internationally at the 2nd International Triennial of Kogei - "The Arts Grounded in Region," 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art, Kanazawa, Japan; "Song of the West," Kohi Kulturaum, Karlsruhe, Germany and "The Saints From a Land So Remote" - LAProjects, Landshut, Germany. Arthur Lopez was born and raised in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and he is proud to be working in the long tradition of New Mexico santero artists. His keen attention to detail has garnered him many awards, and he is highly esteemed as one of New Mexico's most popular santero wood sculptors. In 2015 Arthur Lopez was awarded the City of Santa Fe Mayor's Award for Excellence in the Arts.
"My work comes out of my faith."