Arthur Lopez: Contemporary Santero / Wood Artist / Sculpture Artist / Art Collector / Rad Dad

@arthurlopezsantos
artlopezart.com

The scene:
We are sitting in Arthur’s family room in the center of his home, surrounded by innumerable artworks both of his own and his vast collection from other artists. Together, the art tells a very rich, cohesive story of his life, both past and present. We are joined by his wife Bernadette who is a silversmith and jeweler.

Highlights:
+ Appreciating Santero art for more than just it’s religious iconography
+ A detailed description of his Andaz processional sculpture
+ Depicting gruesome elements in a passionate, designed way to draw the viewer in
+ Embracing personal viewer interpretations
+ The influence of being raised Catholic and being an altar boy
+ The fear and guilt and terror of Catholic religious symbology
+ Looking for the maker’s hand and design elements in art
+ Had a corporate Graphic Design career
+ Dad’s cancer brought him back to Santa Fe, and to wood carving
+ Represented by both the King and Manitou galleries in NM and AZ
“+ Don’t do one thing 100 times, do 100 of those things”
+ Don’t become complacent or stagnant in your work
+ Family supporting you in being a full time artist
+ Shoutout to our connector @erincurrierfineart
+ Gallerists encouraging you to explore and create outside of textbook art
+ There’s room for everyone to create in only the way that they can
+ Doing the art you love for a living / fighting creating art just for selling it
+ Creating art for patrons
+ The life of an artist bringing unique experiences and opening doors
+ Releasing yourself from your pieces
+ Loves the challenge of hearing “you can’t do this or that”
+ Everything in your life path is cumulative, is necessary
+ Creates collaborative Santos with his silversmith and jeweler wife @silverbybernadette

A taste:
“What do you want out of life? […] What are you willing to do for it? […] For everything in life, there’s a sacrifice to get there and you’ve got be willing to make those sacrifices.”

Favorite saying:
“It doesn’t matter how long it takes you to get there as long as you get there.”
“If you want more, do more.”