Maurice Loriaux

Maurice Loriaux, 1909-1998, artist, was an important figure in the post-World War II artist “colony” established in Santa Fé, New Mexico. He founded Santa Fé Studios of Church Art, employing the talents of native New Mexican artists to fashion woodwork and stained glass, predominantly for Catholic churches. The Santa Fe Studios were one of the principal suppliers of ecclesiastical artwork in the United States, contributing to the interiors of more than 400 churches, including Saint Peter’s in the Loop [1], Chicago; St Brendan’s, Los Angeles (featured in the film “Spiderman 3”) [2]; Holy Family, Fort Worth; St Paul’s Cathedral, St Paul [3]; Our Lady Queen of Angels, Birmingham. In addition, his Studios renovated the Santa Barbara Mission, in California [4]. Loriaux also designed the 31-foot statue of the Sacred Heart at Mother Cabrini Shrine atop Mount Vernon near Denver [5], and the Junipero Serra Monument on the grounds of the California state capital in Sacramento [6].

See: History of St. Peter’s Church (Chicago, IL: Franciscan Fathers, 1953).