Short Bio:
Guillermo Esparza is an award winning internationally recognized American iconographer, painter and sculptor with collections at the US national archives, the Phanar in Istanbul, Turkey, the Vatican Museum in Rome, Italy, Smithsonian American Art Museum, as well as numerous cathedrals, churches, museums, and private as well as public collections internationally. He is an artist-in-residence for St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral in Manhattan, New York. An ecumenicist, Mr. Esparza has been awarded important commissions by churches of many denominations, and his original works are installed in Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Byzantine Catholic, and Greek Orthodox Churches. Mr. Esparza's murals for Episcopal, Roman Catholic, Byzantine Catholic and Greek Orthodox churches have had the great distinction of being declared Icons. A visionary in the world of public art in the US, Mr. Esparza is the first recipient of the "Percent-For-Art" public commission from the State of Arizona in 1986, thus opening the door to the next generation of artists competing for public commissions. Guillermo Esparza has been honored for his work by His All Holiness Bartholomew I, His Holiness the late Pope John Paul II, and New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, among others. Mr. Esparza's family built churches and cathedrals in Mexico. His paternal grandfather, Don Manuel Esparza, was a prominent US landowner and businessman, whose family held Spanish land grants in Mexico since the 17th century. Mr. Esparza's maternal grandfather, the architect and engineer Don Benito Hernandez y Quiroz, was instrumental in bringing electricity to Guatemala. Guillermo Esparza is married to American composer and concert pianist Maria Andriasova Esparza, daughter of the legendary Russian composer Iosif Andriasov.
Mr. Guillermo Esparza's website is at http://www.guillermoesparza.com
All press inquiries should be directed to Dame Larissa van Duser at 646-489-1242 or at LarissaVanDuser@aol.com
Bio:
The artist's works are in the permanent collections at the Vatican Museum in Rome, the Phanar Museum in Istanbul, Turkey, the US National Archives, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, as well as numerous cathedrals, churches, museums, and private collections. Guillermo Esparza, is considered a visionary in the world of public art in the US, is the first recipient of the "Percent-For-Art" public commission from the State of Arizona in 1986, thus opening the door to the next generation of artists competing for public commissions. His permanent installations of sculpture, monuments, and murals are located throughout the US. Guillermo Esparza works in the figurative manner, drawing from Byzantine, Classical and Alexandrian influences to create an original conception of light and color. An observer of natural phenomena, his work is infused with poetic reasoning and the constant movement of light on forms.
"According to early Christian history, the tradition of iconography was established approximately 1,000 years before the Renaissance," says Esparza. "It is based on golden-mean proportions and related geometry, Byzantine modules, exact anatomy, inverted perspective, and perspective perspective. In my works, I strive to preserve the traditions of the medieval painters. What inspires me is light penetrating transparent colors of egg tempera, reflecting back from the gesso ground. In sculpture, it is the super emanating light coming from white marble, reflecting the heart of the shellfish: fiat lux."
Guillermo Esparza began his career as an environmental sculptor, creating public fountains and monuments in the Southwest. He came to New York in 1988 to learn the art of the Orthodox. After extensive study of scripture and sacred art, he spent many years in the restoration of churches and icons for the Byzantine Catholic Community. He studied iconography with Michael Joseph Dudick, Bishop of the Byzantine Catholic Metropolitan Church of Pittsburgh, the U.S. branch of the Ruthenian Catholic Church. Mr. Esparza, an ecumenicist, has been awarded important commissions by churches of many denominations, and his original works are installed in Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and Greek Orthodox Churches. Some of his other works are influenced by epic poems of Western culture, and are part of many public and private collections.
Msgr. Donald Sakano, present Pastor of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, has been an important patron, friend, and spiritual advisor to Guillermo Esparza for many years. They were involved in several projects, including a recent restoration of the historic icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help that was installed in the transept of St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue at its dedication, and is now at the Church of the Holy Innocents on West 37th Street. The building of the shrine and the icon restoration has been commissioned by Msgr. Donald Sakano. Mr. Esparza recently restored and gilded the tabernacle and ciborium in St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, once again under the guidance and patronship of Msgr. Sakano. Since 2009, Mr. Esparza is the Artist-in-Residence at the St. Patrick's Old Cathedral. His sacred arts exhibit "Arcanum Angelorum" (The Mystery of the Angels) runs from February 26, 2009 through July 31, 2009. Mr. Esparza is also presenting his Sacred Arts Lecture Series at the Old Cathedral during that period. New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg honored Guillermo Esparza's sacred art exhibit "Arcanum Angelorum" ("Mystery of the Angels") at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, and proclaimed its opening date of February 26, 2009 as the official “St. Patrick's Old Cathedral Day” in New York City.
Guillermo Esparza has also worked closely with another important supporter and patron of his studio: businessman and philanthropist Michael Parlamis of New Jersey. One of their projects is a 60-foot Peace Dove mural that is installed at the Peace Memorial Gymnasium adjacent to the St. John the Theologian Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Tenafly, NJ. The mural was commissioned by Mr. Parlamis and his relatives to commemorate the victims of the Lockerbie terrorist attack. Mr. Parlamis' niece, Alexia Tsairis, died aboard Pan Am Flight 103 in 1988. Guillermo Esparza was working on the dove at his studio when the World Trade Center was attacked. The windows were blown out and a cloud of dust filled the studio, a block from the Twin Towers. Some debris and dust attached itself to the canvas where it remains today. "The dust is sealed into the painting under a layer of white pearlescent paint,'' Esparza says. "The dust came in and there is no going back. Once it came in, it was on the painting. I took it to the cathedral and unrolled it there on the floor and the parishioners came there to touch it.'' The mural was blessed by His Eminence Archbishop Demetrios in 2002, and by His All Holiness Bartholomew I in 2004.
Guillermo Esparza's monumental sculpture of Archangel Michael, which he carved out of Vermont marble, is installed at S.S. Peter and Paul Byzantine Church in Somerset, NJ. Mr. Esparza designed and built the Shrine as well, including carved glass doors and icons. The sculpture took two years to carve, and was blessed by Bishop Michael Joseph Dudick.
Another major work by Guillermo Esparza in New York area is his original Mural Icon of the Pantrocrator, 15 foot by 20 foot painting in oil and 24 karat gold on Belgian linen. It is installed 60 feet above the nave of the Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, and is a gift from the Very Rev. Robert V. Wilshire, who served for 20 years as Dean of the Cathedral, seat of the Long Island Episcopal Diocese. Dean Wilshire died on July 22, 1999. The Rt. Rev. James Cordone and The Rt. Rev. Orris G. Walker Jr., Bishop of Long Island, were instrumental in having this project funded and realized.
Guillermo Esparza creates monumental and small sculpture in a variety media including marble, bronze, silver, stone, cast stone, glass, wood and terracotta. In his paintings and icons, he uses egg tempera, oil, watercolor and gold leaf. He grinds and prepares all colors and gessoes in the studio, and uses the ancient Byzantine canon of sacred geometry, proportion and multi-perspective philosophy in his work.
Guillermo Esparza was born in San Antonio, Texas, and raised in the San Francisco Bay area. Mr. Esparza's family built churches and cathedrals in Mexico. His paternal grandfather, Don Manuel Esparza, was a prominent US landowner and businessman, whose family held Spanish land grants in Mexico since the 17th century. Mr. Esparza's maternal grandfather, the architect and engineer Don Benito Hernandez y Quiroz, was instrumental in bringing electricity to Guatemala. Guillermo Esparza is married to Maria Andriasova Esparza, a renowned Moscow-born American composer and concert pianist, daughter of the legendary Soviet composer, Iosif Andriasov. In 1995, Ms. Andriasova was invited to perform at the Gala concert dedicated to His Holiness Pope John Paul II's visit to the United States to commemorate the International Year of the Family and to celebrate the friendship between the United States and the Vatican. At this event she met her future husband, Guillermo Esparza, whose Ecumenical sculptures were commissioned by Archbishop Iakovos, Former Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America, funded by the American Greek Orthodox community and a Catholic community of the US. His Eminence Archbishop Iakovos presented the silver sculptures to the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, on his historic visit to the Vatican, presented the sculpture to His Holiness Pope John Paul II, and kept the other sculpture at the Phanar in Constantinople. Maria and Guillermo Esparza were married by Bishop Michel at the Episcopal Cathedral of the Incarnation in Garden City, New York, under Guillermo Esparza's Mural of the Pantrocrator, Archangels Michael and Gabriel. Maria and Guillermo Esparza live and work in Manhattan.
MUSEUMS:
·
U.S. National Archives, since 2001
U.S. National Archives, since 2001·The Vatican, Rome, Italy, since 1995
The Vatican, Rome, Italy, since 1995·The Phanar, Istanbul, Turkey, since 1995
The Phanar, Istanbul, Turkey, since 1995·Smithsonian American Art Museum, since 1982
Smithsonian American Art Museum, since 1982NOTABLE COLLECTIONS:
·His Holiness, the late Pope John Paul II, Bishop of Rome, 1995
His Holiness, the late Pope John Paul II, Bishop of Rome, 1995·His All Holiness, Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, 1995
His All Holiness, Bartholomew I, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, 1995·His Eminence, the late Cardinal O’Connor, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, NY, 1996
His Eminence, the late Cardinal O’Connor, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, NY, 1996·His Eminence, Cardinal Pio of Samoa, 1999
His Eminence, Cardinal Pio of Samoa, 1999·His Eminence, the late Archbishop Iakovos, Greek Orthodox Church, New York, NY, 1995
His Eminence, the late Archbishop Iakovos, Greek Orthodox Church, New York, NY, 1995·Father Alexander Karloutsos, Office of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, New York, NY, 1997
Father Alexander Karloutsos, Office of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, New York, NY, 1997·Rev. Father Isaias, Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Guadalajara, Mexico, 1997
Rev. Father Isaias, Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Guadalajara, Mexico, 1997·Mr. Xenophon Galinas, Olympic Tower, New York, NY 1996
Mr. Xenophon Galinas, Olympic Tower, New York, NY 1996·Communicants of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, Baltimore, MD, 1996
Communicants of the Greek Orthodox Cathedral of the Annunciation, Baltimore, MD, 1996CATHEDRALS AND CHURCHES:
·Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, New York, NY
Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, New York, NY·St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, New York, NY
St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, New York, NY·The Church of the Holy Innocents, New York, NY
The Church of the Holy Innocents, New York, NY·St. Markella’s Cathedral, Astoria, NY
St. Markella’s Cathedral, Astoria, NY·Cathedral of St. John the Theologian, Tenafly, NJ
Cathedral of St. John the Theologian, Tenafly, NJ·The Cathedral of the Incarnation, Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, Garden City, NY
The Cathedral of the Incarnation, Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, Garden City, NY·The Vatican, Rome, Italy
The Vatican, Rome, Italy·The Phanar, Istanbul, Turkey
The Phanar, Istanbul, Turkey·St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, NY
St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York, NY·The Cathedral of the Annunciation, Baltimore, MD
The Cathedral of the Annunciation, Baltimore, MD·S.S. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, Somerset, NJ
S.S. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, Somerset, NJ·Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church, New York, NY
Our Lady of Victory Roman Catholic Church, New York, NY·St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, New York, NY
St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church, New York, NY·Church of the Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Church, Smithtown, NY
Church of the Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Church, Smithtown, NY·St. Mary of the Assumption Byzantine Catholic Church, Trenton, NJ
St. Mary of the Assumption Byzantine Catholic Church, Trenton, NJ·St. Elias Byzantine Catholic Church, Brooklyn, NY
St. Elias Byzantine Catholic Church, Brooklyn, NY·St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, Dunellen, NJ
St. Nicholas Byzantine Catholic Church, Dunellen, NJ·St. George’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Linden, NJ
St. George’s Byzantine Catholic Church, Linden, NJ·St. Philip in the Foothills Episcopal Church, Tucson, AZ
St. Philip in the Foothills Episcopal Church, Tucson, AZAWARDS / AFFILIATIONS / OTHER COMMISSIONS:
Artist-in-residence, St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, Manhattan, New YorkCapomaestro, Greek Orthodox Church of the Annunciation, Manhattan, New YorkProclamation from the Mayor of New York Michael R. BloombergCommendation from His All Holiness The Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, Istanbul, TurkeyPublic Art Fund Award, Tucson AZFirst co-recipient of “One-percent-for-the-arts” commission in the Southwest US, 1987, Reid Park Outdoor Center for the Performing Arts, Tucson, Arizona, 1986; Celebration of the Arts, architecture-linked bas relief panel in cast stone, 8' x 16' x 6"Tucson Parks and Recreation commissionGerald Peters Collection, main fountain, Sena Plaza, Santa Fe, New MexicoChamber of Commerce, Bath, ME commissionArizona Contractors’ Landscape Award, David Mehl Residence — in a team with Rodgers, Gladwin and Harmony, Landscape Architects design, Tucson, Arizona, 1985Bath Iron Works Corporation, Bath, Maine, 1984; Shipbuilder’s Monument, marble and granite, 8' x 8' x 2' (collaboration)David Mehl Residence, Tucson, Arizona, 1985; courtyard fountain of sandstone and marble, 8' x 42" x 8'Reid Park Zoo, Tucson, Arizona, 1986; Follow the Yellow Brick Road, sign-sculpture in cast stone, 10' x 46" x 12"Tucson National Resort and Spa, Tucson, Arizona, 1986; The Tree of Life, three-tiered fountain, 7.5' x 11.5' x 7.5'Shomac Corporation, Tucson, Arizona, 1986; interior sculpture of marble, 2' x 18' x 2'JNC Corporation, Tucson, Arizona, 1986; interior fountain, marble, 8' x 5' x 8'Aries Enterprises, Tucson, Arizona, 1986; four stone entrance monuments, 11" x 12' x 11' ea. St. Phillips in the Hills Episcopal Church, Tucson, Arizona, 1986; painting and restorationLloyd Wells Residence, Falmouth Yacht Club, Falmouth, Maine, 1987, carved bas-relief of seascapeGuillermo Esparza is the subject of the documentary by Los Angeles filmmaker Veronica Aberham for London-based Studio International. Original soundtrack composed and performed by Maria Andriasova Esparza. The film was released in June 1st, 2009 and premiered at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral for its 200-year anniversary on June 7th, 2009.
New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg honors Guillermo Esparza's sacred art exhibit "Arcanum Angelorum" ("Mystery of the Angels") at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral, and proclaims its opening date of February 26, 2009 as the official “St. Patrick's Old Cathedral Day” in New York City.
Permanent collections at the Vatican Museum in Rome, the Phanar Museum in Istanbul, Turkey, the US National Archives, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, as well as numerous cathedrals, churches, museums, and private collections.
An ecumenicist, Mr. Esparza has been awarded important commissions by churches of many denominations, and his original works are installed in Episcopal, Roman Catholic, and Greek Orthodox Churches.
A visionary in the world of public art in the US, Mr. Esparza is the first recipient of the "Percent-For-Art" public commission from the State of Arizona in 1986, thus opening the door to the next generation of artists competing for public commissions.
Guillermo Esparza at work in his studio.
