James Nicolosi-Cao
Patron Saint of Pain
Mixed Media
2025
Acrylic gouache, coloured pencil
12 x 16-inch pointed arch panel
The process of undergoing suffering for the sake of adornment is honoured as a Christ-like sacrifice.
“Part of a triptych depicting painful body modifications as Catholic saint portraits, inspired by Bernini’s Ecstasy of St. Teresa. The intense, primary magenta calls to the symbolism and importance of bloodshed in scarification practices.”
Work by
James Nicolosi-Cao
Illustration
“Ritual is a multi-media series of works depicting various forms of body modification to demonstrate how physical changes can have a sacred, transformative, spiritual effect that exceeds the body’s...” [More]