Artist gifts clay sculpture of virgin of itati to Pope Leo XIV

Artist Richar De Itatí gifted a sculpture of the Virgin of Itatí to Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Nunciature in Argentina.

The artist, who uses the name Ricardo Orlando Ortiz, created the piece to represent the cultural and religious identity of the Corrientes province. The 30 centimeter tall sculpture was made using clay from the banks of the Paraná River and holy water.

De Itatí used ancestral Guaraní ceramic techniques to build the figure, including overlapping clay cords to create a corrugated texture inspired by regional archaeological remains. He finished the piece in a wood-fired clay oven and used a substance from aloe and cactus to bind the clay parts together. The artist stated he kneaded the mud with holy water while lighting candles during the creation process. He intended the work for home altars.

The Virgin of Itatí is a central figure in the local community, which became a pilgrimage site after the image allegedly appeared on the riverbanks four centuries ago. De Itatí is a curator and teacher who has focused on Guaraní ceramic traditions for over 15 years. His work is held in various private and public collections, and he was selected to participate in the National Salon of Visual Arts in 2025 and 2026.