Sculpting a new tradition
- Arthur reworks the Santero tradition of religious sculpture with a modern-day twist
- The landscape and culture of his native New Mexico inspires and features in his work
- His drive is to add relevance and relatability to the ancient tradition
Arthur López has been creating Santos, wooden sculptures of Catholic saints, since 1999. His approach blends the traditional methods that have been practised in New Mexico since the late 1700s with contemporary settings and behaviour. “The art form thrives when modern interpretations honour, rather than imitate, its roots,” he says. After pursuing a career in graphic design, Arthur returned to his hometown of Santa Fe where he began to work as a wood sculptor and artist. A curator at the International Folk Art Museum purchased an early piece, and he sold over a dozen sculptures the first time he exhibited in Santa Fe's juried Traditional Spanish Market. Gallery representation soon enabled Arthur to sculpt full time. His pieces are held in public art collections across New Mexico and the wider USA.
Discover his work
INTERVIEW
I had always loved painting and drawing. When my father passed away, I felt a redoubled passion for art, especially religious art. I went to the Spanish Market in Santa Fe to research retablos, painted saints, but I discovered 3D carvings called bultos. I remembering thinking I could do that.
I found a piece of aspen and I carved my first sculpture with a hunting knife and a razor blade. I was hooked. The 3D work made more sense to me than the 2D. I started studying everything I could about wood sculpting, researching traditional methods and making my own pigments.
The culture and the landscape of New Mexico are central to my work. I often incorporate the faces of people I know and the local landscape, from from the piñon tree hills to the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. I also honour the tradition of this place through the materials and methods I use.
When I saw that my kids were not interested in traditional crucifixes, I realised that saints and their stories could be placed in modern, relatable contexts. There are patron saints of motorcycle riders, so why not show them on a motorcycle? Contemporary takes make the work more engaging for younger generations and more fun for me to create.
