Catholic art is flourishing in a spirit of renaissance since the 1977 publication of “Environment and Art in Catholic Worship.” Its inspiring guidelines challenge all of us who create art for the Catholic Church to summon the best within ourselves to make the worship space a vehicle of faith.

“A simple and attractive beauty in everything that is used or done in liturgy is the most effective invitation to the experience of mystery. One should be able to sense something special (and nothing trivial) in everything that is seen and heard, touched and smelled, and tasted in liturgy.” (EACW Page 11)

We artists cannot ask for more compelling advise as this as we open the doors to our studios to begin work each morning.

We also have the daunting inspiration of the history of Catholic Church artists, which includes on its roster a veritable catalogue of visual genius from Michelangelo to Matisse, and all the great anonymous creators of the Romanesque and Gothic eras. Even if we may never equal them, they give us something to live up to.