Roberto (Bob) Cardinale

The church form speaks to Roberto’s love of ecclesiastical architecture and springs from his monastic background and southwestern travels. The churches, built of pine and richly painted, are about 12" wide and 16" high and vary in length. He began making his churches in 1985 and spends from 60 - 90 actual work hours on each piece.  The works are sculpture rather than models which strive to capture the spirit, age and beauty of each church, whether real or imagined.  He has made well over 500 unique pieces and focuses on the churches and synogogues in New Mexico, Texas, California, Mexico and many from Italy, France, Spain and England.

Artistic Background

His work is in the permanent collections of The Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, Albuquerque, NM, The Sangre de Cristo Center for the Arts, Pueblo, CO, The Harwood Museum of Art, Taos, NM, The Billy Graham Museum of Art, Wheaton, IL, The Benedictine Museum of Art, Lyle, IL, and The Museum of the ArchDiocese of Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM.

Roberto’s art work has been represented by Patina Gallery and Tansey Contemporary in Santa Fe, NM and by Leslie Levy Fine Art in Scottsdale, AZ and is currently represented by The Marshall Gallery in Scottsdale.

Personal & Professional Background

Born in Pueblo, Colo., Bob has a BA in Mathematics and Philosophy earned while a Benedictine monk, an MA in Art from the University of Northern Colorado, and a Doctorate in Art Education from Arizona State University. He has been a professor at the University of Northern Colorado, The Ohio State University, University of Arizona, and Boston University (where he was Director of the Program in Artisanry). He has been president of the San Antonio Art Institute and the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, and a Realtor since 1992.  In 2009 he was named a Master of the Southwest by Phoenix Home & Garden magazine.