This photo of Mother Teresa is just one example of the work of Ruben Ferreira—the self-taught Portuguese artist who creates sacred art while working full-time in conflict resolution at a local hospital.
Ruben's interest in art was sparked as a child while watching his father paint. Now, his personalized Catholic artwork has been commissioned around the world.
RUBEN FERREIRA
Artist
I cannot paint a subject I don't feel connected with. So that's why I do a lot of research on the lives of the saints, or if it's a biblical passage, I will meditate, I will pray about it. I can see it in my heart before I can show you in the canvas. So I always tell people I have hundreds of paintings in my heart, I'm just praying for God to give me time, enough time to show them to the world before He calls me back home.
When painting the saints, Ruben strives to express their personality on the canvas. He says he uses joy as a channel to connect people with the Church.
RUBEN FERREIRA
Artist
Very often you see saints with their black and white photos where they look really grumpy—really with a closed face. And no one wants to follow miserable people.
A lot of people say 'Oh you do your saints smiling?' Yes, and I think that sparks the curiosity to know more.
One of his artistic goals is to showcase the stories of lesser-known saints and the worldwide diversity of the Chruch.
RUBEN FERREIRA
Artist
Speaking of people from the Rwanda genocide for example, to missionaries in Laos, to people from Madagascar—suddenly people start to see, 'Oh okay the Church is not just Europe or white folks.'
So my mission at the moment, as I understand it, is bringing that diversity.
While Ruben will continue dividing his time between his art studio and the local hospital, he hopes to one day paint full-time. He said God gave him the talent of art and he hopes to use it to show God to the world.
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