Hands On Sculpture
by Tony Oviedo

By Rebekah Powers | September 2024

A murder of huge bronze crows have landed in the windows of Chimayo Trading! Magnificently powerful, they carry messages from the Dream world as well the artist and deeply passionate sculptor, Tony Oviedo who is obsessed with crows, ravens and magpies. When you see them, there is no denying their larger than life presence. As he spoke about his affinity for crows, Tony picked up his largest bird in his arms, which is no easy feat!

“St Francis” 3/25 – 14″ x 5″

Chimayo Trading is offering an array of bronze sculptures by New Mexican sculptor Tony Oviedo, also known as Marco Antonio Oviedo II who lives and breathes his art and is devoted to the idea behind each creation. When speaking about his sculpture recently in the gallery, he held Saint Francis against his chest as he spoke of the details he included and why. One hand is vertical, the finger barely touching his lip, a blessing not only of the body, but of words spoken into the world. In his other hand, an empty bowl shows the saint’s humility, faith, and gentle power which he wears like robes. Tony marvels that a beggar with an empty bowl can become one of the most influential people to ever live. And rather than a dove on his shoulder, Oviedo gives Saint Francis a magpie.

“Stella” Female Crow 3/25 – 12″ x 16.5″ x 7″, “Stanley” Male Crow 3/25 – 14″ x 13″ x 7″

The son of master sculptor and Santero for whom he is named, Tony has carved a personal niche in the devotional art of New Mexico with his own myth making and narrative bronze sculptures. Tony is unafraid to add his own layer of meaning to the myth, suggesting a pair of crows named Stella and Stanley are urban, attend the opera and have dinner parties, named after characters in “Streetcar Named Desire”.. No matter the particular subject, Tony explores themes of transformation, myth and catharsis. His passion is evident every step of the way, from inception and concept which drives his energy into designing a piece with balance and meaning, or a repeated symbol hidden in the folds of a cloak.

“Beatrix” 3/25 – 6″ x 5″ x 7″, “Peter” 1/25 – 4″ x 9″ x 6″

The artist lives in the picturesque town of Velarde along the Rio Grande in a house he made. Devoted dad to four daughters, he put his art career on hold to become a New Mexico State Police Officer or “Warrior of Peace”, for 16 years and retired as a seargant. Now that he is retired from peacemaking, his heart, soul and fierce focus have returned to his first and deepest love: making myth, sculpting stories and carrying forward the traditions of his notable family for generations.

“Felix” 3/25 – 8″ x 3.25″ x 2.5”, “Luna” 3/25 – 13.5″ x 4.5″, “Archimedes” 3/25 – 10.5″ x 4″

Tony’s great grandfather carved angelic Mexican Baroque woodworks and his grandfather and father were woodworkers of great repute. His father was the first Spanish Colonial Santero. So it was natural that when he was only 2 years old, Tony was given a block of wood and sandpaper instead of a toy. By 8, he was making retablos, and soon, his Santos were selling at Spanish Market in Santa Fe. Tony continued to catapult through his artistic apprenticeship assisting his first bronze pour at 11, and by 13 doing his own lost wax pouring of bronze sculpture. Thus he was launched into a world of devotional art, story telling and artistic expression.

“Madonna” 2/25 – 11.5″ x 4.5″, “Atimis” 2/25 – 11.5″ x 3.75″

Most sculptors seek out professional foundries to do the mold making, pouring and sometimes a lot of the labor intensive surface work and patinas. But Tony Oviedo has his own family foundry where he pours molten bronze into intricate molds and sprue systems.

“Dancing Horse” 4/25 – 9″ x 6″ x 2”, “Apona” 6/25 – 6″ x 6″ x 1.75”

The process of this alchemy is 5000 years old, requiring incredible amounts of time, technical skill, heavy lifting and detailed knowledge. For his 7 foot tall commemorative commission, the mold had to be in many pieces, each one poured and cut from the sprue system and then welded together. I can think of no other sculptor who could accomplish this on their own, with their own two hands. In order to do this, he must be a mold maker extraordinaire, a metallurgist, a pyrotechnic and a scientist to bring everything together into a form of art that feels alive. In Tony’s words, his sculptures are “a lie that tells the truth”.

“Huginn” Male Raven 2/25 – 15″ x 40″ x 13″, “Muninn” Female Raven 2/25 – 20.5″ x 31″ x 12″

The inner life and the mind of this artist seem to pulse beneath the bronze patinas. When he speaks about the art and its meaning, He says his rather abstracted, stylized images are “a lie that tells the truth”. Each sculpture is embued with an intense energy of devotion combined with a sense of mystery and connection that defines the “hands on” sculpture of Marco Antonio Oviedo II at Chimayo Trading.

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#1 Saint Francis Church Plaza
Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557

575.758.0504

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