Sacred Art: Proposed Fresco Project
From the earliest days of Christian worship, sacred art has played a vital role in drawing the faithful deeper into the mystery of God. Art helps us pray, contemplate, and encounter truths that transcend words. In the beauty of sacred images, we glimpse the invisible and see God’s presence among us.
Beauty and worship are inseparable. Sacred art, when integrated thoughtfully into the liturgy, becomes a spiritual language and a visual theology that shapes not just our buildings, but our hearts. It invites us into the mystery we celebrate at the altar and in the Word, helping to form us as a people of prayer and praise.
At Our Lady of Grace, we are blessed with a beautiful church that continues to evolve and grow. Much of what we see in the sanctuary today are newer additions made over the years. We are now entering a time of discernment about how sacred art might further enrich our space and support the worship of our community.
A Proposal for Sacred Art in the Sanctuary
We have recently been given the opportunity to consider a truly exciting artistic proposal to have internationally acclaimed fresco artist Mark Balma to come to Our Lady of Grace to create two site-specific frescoes in our sanctuary. These frescoes would be designed uniquely for our space, shaped by the prayer and character of our community.
The proposed scenes are rooted in the life of Our Lady, our mother and patroness:
The Annunciation – the moment of Mary’s “yes,” when the Word became flesh through her faithful consent.
Mary at the Foot of the Cross – where she stands in sorrow and strength, joined to her Son’s suffering and to the suffering of the world.
These two images—beginning and end, joy and sorrow, fiat and fidelity—express the heart of Marian discipleship. They resonate with our identity as a parish named for Our Lady of Grace, and offer a visual meditation on trust, sacrifice, and the mystery of salvation.
Who Is Mark Balma?
Mark Balma is one of the world’s leading fresco painters. A Minnesota native who now resides in Assisi, Balma is classical realist painter who incorporates techniques of the early Renaissance into portraits, fresco murals and studio works. He uses an early Renaissance technique of oil painting pioneered by Leonardo da Vinci, which is composed of many layers of hand-ground paint superimposed upon each other in a secret mixture of essential oils and resin. Balma is known for his large-scale sacred and civic works, including commissions at the Vatican, The Cathedral of Saint Paul, the Basilica of St. Mary, and the University of St. Thomas.
Balma’s work is rooted in a theology of beauty. For him, art is not just technical skill but it is a sacred vocation. His commitment to the ancient craft of fresco, in particular, sets him apart in today’s art world and connects his work with centuries of Catholic tradition.
You can hear from Mark in this CBS morning Clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCIzTRgh-Nw
What Is a Fresco?
A fresco is one of the oldest and most revered forms of sacred art. The term comes from the Italian word “fresco” meaning fresh. In this technique, pigments are applied directly onto fresh plaster. As the plaster sets and dries, the paint becomes chemically fused with the wall itself making the image an enduring, physical part of the space. It is designed for one space and one purpose which is to live and breathe within the architecture of worship. Frescoes are typically created in small sections each day, timed precisely with the drying of the plaster. The process requires not only extraordinary skill but careful planning, theological reflection, and harmony with the space.
The great frescoes of Christian history, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling, Giotto’s cycles in Assisi, and countless others—are expressions of faith, born of prayer and made to last for generations.
We want to invite the whole parish to reflect, and pray with us about this potential project. For more information on this project please contact Rámond Mitchell, Director of Liturgy at ramondmitchell@olgparish.org